Autumn 1848

Charles-François Daubigny created this print, Autumn, using etching, a process of using acid to cut into a metal plate. Daubigny and other artists of his era, such as Jean-François Millet, turned away from depicting historical or mythological scenes to focus on landscapes. In this piece, the bending of the tree in the wind suggests a humble acceptance of nature’s forces, while the figures on the left, leading a donkey laden with goods, evoke the life of rural laborers. During this period in France, there was a growing interest in the lives of the working class, yet often through a lens that romanticized their labor. Consider how Daubigny’s scene of the French countryside invites you to connect with the serenity of rural existence, while also prompting reflection on the economic realities and the human labor embedded within this landscape.