Oplopende landweg met bomen rechts 1773 - 1843

Georges Michel created this pencil drawing of a rising country road with trees to the right. Michel, who lived through the French Revolution, devoted himself to capturing the landscapes around Paris. His works often evoke the pre-industrial era, where rural life was romanticized. The delicate lines and soft shading create a serene, almost dreamlike quality. The lack of human presence emphasizes the solitary aspect of nature. Yet, we cannot ignore that the French Revolution was, in part, driven by the peasantry's struggle for land rights and freedom. This drawing, while seemingly apolitical, becomes charged with a sense of longing for a simpler, perhaps idealized past, before the dramatic societal shifts of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The emotional resonance of this landscape lies in its quietude. It reflects the yearning for stability and peace amidst the turmoil of revolution and change.