Saint-Cirq-Lapopie in Evening 1897

Henri Martin painted Saint-Cirq-Lapopie in Evening, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, with oil on canvas. Martin was known as a post-Impressionist, an artist following in the footsteps of Monet, Renoir, and others, who were experimenting with looser brushwork and plein air painting. France at this time was going through a period of intense self-reflection, of which the Impressionists were at the forefront. This meant a rejection of the traditional artistic institutions, such as the Salon system. Post-Impressionists like Martin embraced this progressive spirit. Though he continued to be influenced by the old masters, Martin infused his art with a modern sensibility, capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, as seen here in the textured brushstrokes of the sky. By studying the archives, letters, and exhibition catalogs of the time, we can better understand the complex cultural landscape in which artists like Martin were working, and appreciate how they challenged the status quo through their art.