BARBIZON SCHOOL Meaning and
Definition
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The Barbizon School refers to a group of landscape painters who were active during the mid-19th century in the village of Barbizon, located near the Fontainebleau Forest in France. This art movement emerged as a response to the dominant academic style that prioritized historical and mythological subjects. Instead, the Barbizon School artists focused on depicting the rural countryside, everyday life, and their immediate surroundings.
Characterized by its naturalistic and plein air approach, the Barbizon School sought to accurately portray nature and capture the effects of light and atmosphere. The artists often painted en plein air, meaning they worked outdoors directly from nature, favoring the direct observation of natural landscapes. They aimed to depict the essence and moods of the landscape by emphasizing light and shadow, as well as incorporating a wide range of natural colors.
The Barbizon School played a significant role in influencing the development of Realism and Impressionism in the late 19th century. Many of its members, such as Camille Corot, Théodore Rousseau, and Jean-François Millet, went on to become significant figures within the Impressionist movement. Their emphasis on capturing the transient and ephemeral qualities of nature, as well as their use of gestural brushwork, anticipated the techniques later employed by Impressionist painters.
In summary, the Barbizon School refers to a group of landscape painters based in Barbizon, France, during the mid-19th century. They focused on depicting nature and everyday life, emphasizing light and atmosphere. Their plein air approach and naturalistic style greatly influenced the development of Realism and Impressionism.
Etymology of BARBIZON SCHOOL
The term "Barbizon School" refers to a group of painters who lived and worked in the village of Barbizon, located near the Forest of Fontainebleau in France. The word "Barbizon" itself is derived from the name of the village.
The Barbizon School emerged in the mid-19th century and is known for its focus on depicting realistic rural landscapes and everyday scenes, as opposed to the more idealized and formal subjects prevalent in academic art at the time. The artists of the Barbizon School were influential in the development of the plein air (outdoor) painting movement, which had a significant impact on the Impressionist movement.
The term "Barbizon School" was coined by French art critics and writers in the 1870s, well after the artists associated with the movement had begun working in Barbizon.
