BARBISON SCHOOL Meaning and
Definition
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The "Barbizon school" refers to a group of French landscape painters who were active during the mid-nineteenth century. This artistic movement took its name from the village of Barbizon, located near the Forest of Fontainebleau in France, where many of the artists resided and drew inspiration from the natural surroundings.
The Barbizon school emerged as a reaction against the prevailing academic style of painting that was dominant in France at the time. The artists associated with the movement sought to capture the beauty and essence of the natural world in their landscapes, prioritizing direct observation and plein air painting techniques. They aimed to depict nature in a more realistic and unidealized manner, focusing on the depiction of light, atmospheric effects, and the changing seasons.
Prominent painters associated with the Barbizon school include Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, Théodore Rousseau, Jean-François Millet, and Charles-François Daubigny, among others. Their artwork often featured rural landscapes, forest scenes, river views, and pastoral settings, conveying a sense of tranquility and a deep connection to nature. The Barbizon school was influential in laying the foundations for the Impressionist movement that followed, as it emphasized the importance of direct observation, rendering of light and color, and a more spontaneous and expressive approach to painting.
Today, the term "Barbizon school" is used to refer to this specific art movement as well as to describe the style of landscape painting that emerged from it, characterized by its realistic portrayal of nature and its emphasis on capturing the mood and ambiance of outdoor scenes.
Etymology of BARBISON SCHOOL
The term "Barbizon school" refers to a group of artists who were associated with the village of Barbizon, France, during the mid-nineteenth century. These artists focused on painting landscapes and rural scenes, often depicting the natural beauty of the surrounding forest of Fontainebleau.
The name "Barbizon school" itself derives from the location where these artists gathered and developed their artistic style. The village of Barbizon, located in the Fontainebleau Forest southeast of Paris, was a popular destination for painters seeking inspiration from its picturesque landscapes.
The term "Barbizon school" was first used by the art critic Jules-Antoine Castagnary in 1861 to describe the collective style and approach of these painters.
