Pastures at Graves near Villerville (Normandy)

Towards the end of his life, Charles-François Daubigny spent much of his time working in Villerville in Normandy, where he painted several beach scenes. He was also interested in the surrounding landscape. In Pastures at Graves near Villerville we see his interest in the transitory elements of nature. The composition is built up schematically with quick brushstrokes and little attention…

Towards the end of his life, Charles-François Daubigny spent much of his time working in Villerville in Normandy, where he painted several beach scenes. He was also interested in the surrounding landscape. In Pastures at Graves near Villerville we see his interest in the transitory elements of nature. The composition is built up schematically with quick brushstrokes and little attention to details. The colours are very dark and the atmosphere is ominous. This expressive method of work heralded a new approach to landscape painting, one which Vincent Van Gogh elaborated on decades later. In fact, Van Gogh greatly admired painters of the Barbizon School such as Millet and Daubigny, whom he regarded as a source of inspiration.