Bouquet d'arbres (Cluster of Trees) 1894

Charles-Marie Dulac made this lithograph, "Bouquet d'arbres," a "cluster of trees", in France, likely in the 1890s. It is reminiscent of the landscapes favored by the Barbizon school. Dulac, however, belonged to a younger generation, one deeply affected by social Catholicism. This movement emphasized the moral obligations of the wealthy to assist the working class. We can ask, then, what the image of trees in a park might have meant in this context. Note that in the middle-ground, in the shadow of the trees, we can just make out a couple seated on a bench. It is possible to imagine the park as a shared space, available to all social classes. Was Dulac making a subtle point about the need for social harmony? Art historians draw on a wide range of resources when interpreting artworks. In this case, the writings of social critics, religious thinkers, and even urban planners might shed light on the cultural significance of Dulac's image.