Barges Fleeing Before the Storm 

Jules Dupré made this oil on canvas painting called, Barges Fleeing Before the Storm, at some point in the 19th Century. The image captures an atmospheric seascape with boats struggling against turbulent waves under a stormy sky, invoking the power of nature. Dupre was part of the Barbizon School in France, a group that advocated painting en plein air. This meant breaking from academic tradition of studio painting to directly engage with nature. The Barbizon school was formed in response to the social upheavals of the Industrial Revolution and they rejected urban life. Rather than depicting historical or mythological scenes, they sought to represent the lives of ordinary people and the beauty of the natural world. Dupre's painting speaks to these Romantic ideals, emphasizing the emotional and sublime aspects of nature over the human figure. By studying letters, exhibition reviews, and other historical sources, we can better understand how such artworks reflected and shaped cultural values during a time of significant social change.