Amont prairie 1888

Maxime Maufra painted Amont prairie with oil on canvas. What does it mean to paint the countryside in the late 19th century? Consider France, where art academies and salons controlled taste, the impressionists and post-impressionists, like Maufra, pushed the boundaries of what was considered suitable for art. They looked at the world around them, including how industrialization changed the landscape. In this painting, the industrial chimneys in the distance punctuate a wide stretch of water and some boats. But what does it mean that the boats, rather than the chimneys, take centre stage? In the 1880’s, when this was painted, the art world was becoming more interested in the lives of everyday people. The impressionists, in particular, were interested in capturing fleeting moments in time and in experimenting with light and color. To understand this painting better, we might look at other landscape paintings from this time. We might also consider the writings of art critics such as Théodore Duret, who championed impressionism.