Landscape with Wagon and Haystacks 1864 - 1875

Zacharie Astruc's "Landscape with Wagon and Haystacks" (1864-1875) is a watercolor depicting a rural scene with a wagon traveling down a dirt road towards two haystacks. The painting's loose, impressionistic style, characterized by the use of light and airy brushstrokes, is typical of Astruc's work, particularly in his later years. The light washes of color and the muted tones of the landscape suggest a hazy summer day, capturing the fleeting nature of light and atmosphere. This small-scale watercolor, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into Astruc's ability to convey the beauty of everyday rural life in a fleeting, yet evocative way.