Trees in a Thicket 1845

Théodore Rousseau made this pencil drawing called ‘Trees in a Thicket,’ and it captures a dense, natural scene. During the 19th century, French artists like Rousseau began to focus on landscape as a subject in its own right. This was during a time of increasing industrialization and urbanization. Artists sought to capture the beauty and tranquility of the natural world, often in contrast to the rapidly changing social landscape. Rousseau was associated with the Barbizon School, a group of artists who rejected academic painting in favour of direct observation of nature. They often worked en plein air, or outdoors, to capture the effects of light and atmosphere. Art historians consider these scenes as visual records of a changing world. By studying these artworks alongside historical documents and cultural studies, we can gain insights into the social and institutional contexts of 19th-century France.