A Farmyard near Fontainebleau 1830

Camille Corot painted “A Farmyard near Fontainebleau” with oil on canvas to capture a moment en plein air. Corot lived through political upheaval in France which influenced his art. His choice to represent the French countryside is a distinct move away from historical or allegorical scenes which were popular at that time. Instead, Corot focused on the everyday. We see rural life depicted here, in a way that romanticizes farm work, but also highlights the social structure of the time. Corot's work can be seen to reflect a yearning for a simpler way of life, and the need to identify with the land. This painting captures the idyllic and, perhaps, imagined life of rural France, reflecting Corot's personal experiences and societal values. It creates an emotional connection to a world that was already beginning to fade.