Banks of Loire 1855

Theodore Rousseau's Banks of Loire is an oil painting that really showcases the materiality of the medium itself. Rousseau's impasto technique, where paint is laid on thickly, gives a tactile quality to the landscape, almost as if you could reach out and feel the textures of the trees, water, and sky. The earth tones dominating the palette – browns, greens, and muted yellows – reflect the actual colors of the Loire Valley, while also being relatively inexpensive pigments. The brushwork, while appearing spontaneous, is deliberate and controlled, building depth and atmosphere through layers of color and texture. The materiality of the paint plays a crucial role in conveying the atmospheric conditions of the scene. This careful attention to his medium raises the status of landscape painting, previously thought to be less valuable than portraiture and history. It is through the material, the making, and the close attention to place, that the canvas comes alive.