Kerkje op een hoogte 1773 - 1843

Georges Michel made this drawing, Kerkje op een hoogte, with graphite. Michel was born in Paris and lived through the French Revolution. He made a name for himself painting landscapes, as you can see here. At the time, French painting was dominated by the Academy. The Academy valued history painting above all other genres, and landscapes were considered to be less important. Michel went against this hierarchy by focusing on landscapes. It is difficult to say with certainty when this artwork was created. However, he made many artworks of this kind after the French Revolution, so it is possible this was one of them. By this time, the Academy lost some of its power. To learn more about Michel’s world, consider doing some research into the history of the Academy. His landscapes show a changing artistic institution. They remind us that the meaning of art changes depending on its context.