Pasture at Villerville (Calvados) 1875

Curator: There’s a quiet intimacy to Charles François Daubigny's “Pasture at Villerville (Calvados).” It feels like a stolen moment. Editor: My first impression is the density of the mark-making—the sheer labor involved in creating that textured foreground and turbulent sky. Curator: It does have that tactile quality, doesn't it? Daubigny was truly masterful at capturing the ephemeral nature of light, air, the very pulse of the French countryside. Editor: It's interesting how Daubigny focuses on the working landscape here. There is a certain amount of labor involved in even the most pastoral settings, don't you think? Curator: Absolutely, the land is breathing, and Daubigny captures that in every etched line. It’s all about feeling the earth beneath your feet. Editor: It's a striking depiction of how labor and land are interconnected. Curator: I always feel transported when I see this piece. Editor: Yes, it's a reminder of the social structures at work, shaping the landscape.