She has been a symbol of French nationalism, of the revanchism following the Franco-Prussian War, and then of early feminism: some wonderful paintings of Joan’s divine visions.
Bastien-Lepage
Known best for his watercolours of his wife and family in their ideal and idyllic Swedish home, his work is far richer and more varied.
His style shifted from the academic, to Bastien-Lepage’s naturalism, to a distinctive blend of Impressionism and Symbolism. Some wonderful paintings.
His last great painting of crowds at a religious ceremony, and his first significant self-portrait. The final years of the eternally golden harvest.
Dividing his time between his home in Courrières and Brittany, he broadened his range of subjects and views – with mounting success.
A story which has been told by a long succession of literary and musical works. But this painting is almost the only one to depict it visually.
An independent pioneer of ‘social realism’, his densely-populated landscapes showed real people struggling to live in the north French countryside.
Gardens aren’t just for flowers, and paintings of vegetable gardens can be just as good art as the most resplendent roses.
He died a century ago, a succession of brilliant and very successful paintings behind him. First of two parts in retrospect.
A look back at some of the series and some surprises which you might have missed over the last year.
