From panoramas to wide-angle views, the optical effects of Naturalist paintings, depth-of-field effects, and loss of depth through a telescope.
Brendekilde
More leaf-peeping, from Tina Blau and Monet’s poplars on the River Epte, to Paul Nash’s eerie Wittenham Clumps under the moon’s last phase.
From 1880, Naturalism showed rural deprivation, but active farmyards with plenty of livestock. Then in the 20th century came the tractor.
Gloves have long been objects of fashion: paintings from Fantin-Latour’s portrait of Manet to Khnopff’s mysterious symbolism.
Like eyes and the rest of the face, hands are most usually seen uncovered in figurative paintings. These paintings show gloved hands which have special purposes and meaning.
It’s unusual and difficult to make humorous paintings. Here’s a fine selection from Bosch, Brueghel and Rubens to the late 19th century.
Churchyards and graveyards in the darker side of French history, in Egypt, and in deep countryside by the fjords of Norway.
Long popular in Germany, Christmas trees spread across Europe and North America in the 19th century. Some seasonal paintings.
Photographers, musicians, harvesters, foresters, booksellers and propagandists, and tinkers from the roads of the past.
Far from being the idyllic countryside, the gleaners who followed the harvesters brought a strong social message.
The Eclectic Light Company 