Charles-François Daubigny

Key facts

Lived

1817–1878, French

Movements

• Naturalism
• Realism

1. 1844Painted "The Crossroads at the Eagle Nest, Forest of Fontainebleau" aged 27.
2. 1852Painted "The Hamlet of Optevoz, in the morning" aged 35.
3. 1859Painted "The graves of Villerville nemed also meadow with a view on the sea" aged 42.
4. 1865Painted "Washerwomen at the Oise River near Valmondois" aged 48.
5. 1874Painted "The meadow of graves in Villerville" aged 57.
6. 1876Painted "Cows on the Banks of the Seine, at Conflans" aged 59.

• What is Charles-François Daubigny known for?+

  Charles-François Daubigny is known for capturing the changing character of watery landscapes. His goal was to capture the momentary mood created by specific weather or light conditions, with the forms of objects subordinate to this purpose.
• What is Charles-François Daubigny's most famous work?+

  Daubigny is best known for his paintings of the French countryside, especially those along the Oise River. Determining a single "most famous" work is difficult, as his popularity has shifted over time. However, certain paintings are consistently recognised and reproduced. Among his celebrated works is "The Seine at Bezons" (1851), which exists in multiple versions. These paintings capture the serene atmosphere of the river, with careful attention to light and reflection. "Villerville sur Mer" (1864) is another example of his coastal scenes, depicting the Normandy shore. "Springtime" (1857) is also a significant piece. It demonstrates Daubigny's skill in capturing the freshness of the season. This painting is housed in the Louvre Museum, giving it prominence. His landscapes often feature calm waters, trees, and open skies, rendered with loose brushwork. These qualities made him an important figure in the development of Impressionism.
• What should I know about Charles-François Daubigny's prints?+

  Charles-François Daubigny (born in Paris, 1817; died in Paris, 1878) is known for his atmospheric treatment of water in open-air paintings. He aimed to capture momentary moods in specific weather or light. Forms and materials were less important than capturing light; he applied paint quickly, so forms appear dissolved. Daubigny abandoned the traditional distinction between sketches and finished paintings. Critics often said that his submissions to the Salon looked like preparatory sketches, not completed works. Despite this mixed reception, he won Salon medals, received a government commission to decorate an office in the Louvre, and was made a Chevalier in the Legion of Honor. From the late 1840s, he painted in the Rhone valley. He made an 1855 oil painting, The Lock at Optevoz, after making a full-sized sketch on site. He also occupied a house at Auvers-sur-Oise from 1861, decorating its walls with scenes from La Fontaine and the Brothers Grimm. His approach to painting influenced the Impressionists.
• What style or movement did Charles-François Daubigny belong to?+

  Charles-François Daubigny, born in Paris in 1817, is associated with the Barbizon School. This group of artists favoured simple, rustic scenes, painted with vigour and immediacy. Daubigny's approach involved close observation of nature; he was one of the early practitioners of painting outdoors (en plein air). His art aimed to capture the momentary mood created by specific weather or light. Forms and their materiality were secondary to this goal. Daubigny applied paint quickly, giving the impression that forms dissolved in light. He abandoned the traditional distinction between sketch and finished painting. Daubigny's vision helped pass on Camille Corot's genius to the Impressionists. His realistic, atmospheric presentation of subjects without pathos paved the way for the Impressionists. He died in 1878.
• What techniques or materials did Charles-François Daubigny use?+

  Charles-François Daubigny (1817-1878) sought to capture transient atmospheric effects in his art. To achieve this, he prioritised the momentary mood of a scene over precise depictions of objects. His technique involved applying paint rapidly, giving the impression that forms were dissolving in light. He moved away from the traditional separation of sketch and finished painting. Daubigny was among the first artists to paint outdoors, a method known as *en plein air*. He made full-sized sketches on site, closely observing nature to maintain freshness in his work. Like others in the Barbizon School, he favoured simple, rustic subjects painted with vigour. Daubigny made studies in pencil, noting colours for the finished painting. One of his favourite subjects was the changing character of waterscapes. From the late 1840s, he painted in the Rhone valley, and the pond of Gyliau near Optévoz was a source of fascination. He even acquired a boat, named *Le Botin*, which he used as a floating studio on the Seine and Oise rivers.
• What was Charles-François Daubigny known for?+

  Charles-François Daubigny (born in Paris, 1817; died 1878) is remembered for his atmospheric depictions of water and the countryside. He sought to capture fleeting effects of light and weather, sometimes at the expense of material form. His technique involved a quick application of paint, giving the impression that forms are dissolved in light. Daubigny abandoned the traditional distinction between sketches and finished paintings. From the late 1840s, Daubigny painted in the Rhone valley. The pond of Gyliau near Optévoz was a source of fascination for him; he made an oil painting of it as late as 1869. His 1855 painting, *The Lock at Optevoz*, depicts a shepherdess with her dog tending to cows by a lock, rendered in cool tones and a smooth technique. Daubigny was an early proponent of painting *en plein air* (outdoors), a method later adopted and developed by the Impressionists. He purchased a boat named *Le Botin*, which he used as a floating studio on the Seine and Oise rivers. His approach to atmospheric, realistic presentations of the countryside paved the way for the Impressionists.
• When did Charles-François Daubigny live and work?+

  Charles-François Daubigny was born in Paris in 1817 and died there in 1878. He is known for his depictions of the French countryside, especially scenes along the Oise and Seine rivers. He settled in Pontoise, north of Paris. Daubigny's work often captured the fleeting qualities of light and atmosphere. From the late 1840s, he painted in the Rhone valley. One location, the pond of Gyliau near Optévoz, was a favourite subject. Daubigny made an oil painting of it as late as 1869, based on studies dating back to 1853. In 1861, he created an album of etchings, Voyage en bateau, illustrating his family's boating adventures on the Seine and Oise. By 1866, he had won Salon medals, received a government commission to decorate an office in the Louvre, and been made a Chevalier in the Legion of Honor.
• Where can I see Charles-François Daubigny's work?+

  Charles-François Daubigny (1817-1878) is represented in collections across Europe and North America. In France, his works can be viewed at the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée du Louvre in Paris, as well as the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nantes, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen, where his 1855 painting *The Lock at Optevoz* is held. Elsewhere in Europe, Daubigny's paintings are held at the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique in Brussels, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. In the United States, Daubigny is represented in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. These museums provide opportunities to study Daubigny's style, which moved away from traditional distinctions between sketches and finished paintings. He aimed to capture momentary moods in nature, often working *en plein air*.
• Where was Charles-François Daubigny from?+

  Charles-François Daubigny was born in Paris in 1817. Later in life, from 1861, he lived in an idyllic house at Auvers-sur-Oise. He decorated the interior walls with scenes from La Fontaine and the Brothers Grimm. Daubigny is known for his paintings of water-dominated views. He aimed to capture fleeting atmospheric conditions. Materiality and form were less important than the overall mood created by specific weather or light. He worked on his paintings of the Rhone valley from the late 1840s. The pond of Gyliau, near Optévoz, was a source of fascination. He made an oil painting of it as late as 1869; a version from 1853 was carefully prepared with preliminary studies. In his small pencil sketches, he noted the colours for the finished painting. Despite achieving success, Daubigny's work often received mixed reviews. Critics often said his finished paintings looked more like sketches.
• Who did Charles-François Daubigny influence?+

  Charles-François Daubigny (1817-1878) belonged to the generation between the Barbizon School and the Impressionists. He was a friend of Camille Corot, and his vision helped to pass on Corot’s genius to the Impressionists. Daubigny's ideals and manner of painting were similar to those of the Barbizon School, who favoured simple, rustic scenes painted with vigour. Daubigny was one of the earliest artists to paint outdoors, a method that the Impressionists would later adopt and develop. Daubigny’s favourite subject was the changing character of water within the wider view. His aim was to capture the momentary mood created by specific weather or light. He applied paint quickly, so forms appear dissolved by light. He abandoned the traditional distinction between sketch and finished painting. Critics often complained that his Salon paintings looked like sketches. Camille Pissarro was the Impressionist closest to Daubigny. Pissarro resided mainly in Pontoise from the mid-1860s until the early 1880s; he was probably drawn there by Daubigny. An early painting by Pissarro, *Barge at La Roche-Guyon* (circa 1865), shares a similar palette to Daubigny’s *Boats on the Oise* (1865).
• Who influenced Charles-François Daubigny?+

  Charles-François Daubigny's artistic development benefited from several influences. He initially trained with his father, Edmé Daubigny, who was also a painter. His uncle, the miniaturist Pierre Daubigny, further contributed to his early artistic education. Daubigny's style evolved through exposure to various artists and movements. He admired the work of Camille Corot, whose atmospheric style had a clear impact on Daubigny's own paintings. Some scholars suggest a link to the Dutch Golden Age painter Jacob van Ruisdael, especially regarding Daubigny's river scenes. While Daubigny is often associated with the Barbizon School, and he knew Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet, his relationship to the group was complex. He maintained an independent approach, incorporating elements from different sources into his art. His travels, particularly to Italy early in his career, exposed him to diverse artistic traditions, which broadened his perspective. He also developed friendships with Gustave Courbet and Honoré Daumier.
• Who was Charles-François Daubigny?+

  Charles-François Daubigny (1817-1878) was a French painter known for his atmospheric approach to depicting water and open air. He aimed to capture fleeting weather and light conditions, often prioritising these over precise details. His loose, suggestive brushwork sometimes blurred the line between preliminary sketch and finished work. Critics noted that his pieces sometimes looked like preparatory studies rather than completed paintings. Daubigny appreciated the work of artists considered unorthodox, preferring 'paintings full of daring' to conventional Salon works. Daubigny's method involved working outdoors, directly observing nature. For example, he executed a full-sized sketch of the scene on site for 'The Lock at Optevoz' (1855). The pond of Gyliau near Optévoz, in the Rhone valley, fascinated him, and he made an oil painting of it as late as 1869. His work with Corot influenced his style. Living in Auvers-sur-Oise from 1861, he decorated his house with scenes from La Fontaine and the Brothers Grimm.