French Artist, Country Landscape, 19th Century, Pastel, Framed for sale at Pamono

Description

Sublime “Landscape with shepherds” in pastel of French origin, original from the 19th century. It presents a country scene: two shepherds rest meekly while their cows and sheep graze in the field. However, the clear protagonism of the landscape stands out, which imposes itself over the small figures of the peasants and their flocks. A large central rock imposes itself behind which rises a tree whose leaves seem to be swaying in the wind. But most of this composition is occupied by the horizon, in which we see small villages on the rolling hillsides, and the sky, which combines pastel blue tones with the orange tones of twilight. This work has a clear romantic component, with the representation of the shadowy and mysterious forest that opens towards the horizon and the infinite sky.

The landscape representation is very characteristic of Romantic painting, which gives the landscape a spiritual component that leads the viewer to experience the sublime. In the 19th century, the cloudy skies of the past are rediscovered and reinterpreted. In general, in the landscape works of Romanticism, a serene and calm atmosphere prevails, to which a component of mystery and uneasiness is added, as can be seen in this pastel.

Although this is a French work, its colors and soft and velvety line resemble the Dutch landscapes of the 17th century. Dutch art already carried within itself a certain romantic component that was expressed in the intensification of the observation of nature and the emphasis on the narrative element. We do not find the hectic fantasy and explosion of color of the French, but this pastel is closer even to the mysticism of Northern European romanticism.

Dimensions: 74 x 88 x 2 cm / 64 x 81 cm