The Forest of Clairbois

Image credit: Glasgow Life Museums

How you can use this image

 

This image is available to be shared and re-used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (CC BY-NC-ND).

You can reproduce this image for non-commercial purposes and you are not able to change or modify it in any way.

Wherever you reproduce the image you must attribute the original creators (acknowledge the original artist(s) and the person/organisation that took the photograph of the work) and any other rights holders.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find more images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Download

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

This painting is typical of Rousseau's forest scenes, with its careful analysis of natural forms and detailed treatment of curling branches and tree-trunks. Although this work would not have been painted out-of-doors, Rousseau's friends recorded that he used to spend long hours examining and memorizing a scene so that he could capture 'the soul of the forest'. Unfortunately Rousseau experimented with the paints he used, and the murky darkness of this work makes it difficult for us to appreciate it. Here his colours, originally rich and glorious, have darkened because of his use of bitumen. Rousseau, like his friends Diaz and Millet, was an important influence on the young Impressionists. His sketch-like technique and his use of strong notes of daring colour – touches of blue, red, green and yellow – attracted the attention of these young artists.

Title

The Forest of Clairbois

Date

c.1836–1839

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 65.4 x W 104.1 cm

Accession number

1124

Acquisition method

bequeathed by James Donald, 1905

Work type

Painting

Inscription description

signed/dated

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC)

200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, Glasgow G53 7NN Scotland

Not all locations are open to the public. Please contact the gallery or collection for more information
View venue