Sunny Day

Emile Claus’ oeuvre gives us a picture of everyday life in the area of the River Lys around 1900. A painting like Sunny Day, which was painted precisely in that year, is an example of his narrative impressionist work. The painting shows noticeable parallels with the work of an experienced photographer. It also looks like a snapshot, a window on…

Emile Claus’ oeuvre gives us a picture of everyday life in the area of the River Lys around 1900. A painting like Sunny Day, which was painted precisely in that year, is an example of his narrative impressionist work. The painting shows noticeable parallels with the work of an experienced photographer. It also looks like a snapshot, a window on reality. The abrupt cut-offs in the background accentuate the realism of the depiction. At the same time the work has a well-considered, balanced composition in which various components are brought together by a unifying light and lack of contrasting colours. Typical of this period in Claus’ work is also the soft play of light and shade in which a largely invisible canopy of leaves filters the harsh sunlight and casts a magical effect of light and shade on the scene.