An Orchard at Harvest Time 1860

Camille Corot made this landscape painting using oil paint on canvas. Corot favored a direct painting method, applying thin layers of paint to the canvas, then building up the image with thicker strokes. He embraced the inherent qualities of the oil paint – its fluidity, luminosity, and capacity to capture light and atmosphere. The way he worked imbues the artwork with social and cultural significance, reflecting the rise of plein-air painting and a growing interest in capturing the fleeting effects of nature. Corot’s technique involved direct observation and a desire to convey the sensory experience of being in the landscape. His methods show a shift from the formal studio to the lived, observed world. This was tied to wider social issues, reflecting a democratic shift in art. Corot's emphasis on the sensory experience challenged established notions of fine art, and paved the way for impressionism. By considering the materials, making, and context, we appreciate the full meaning of the artwork.