Figures in the Woods
Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli
1860
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli
1860
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows three people standing in a dark, brushy forest. The two women are dressed in light, flowing clothes. One holds a child who looks back at them. The background is thick with red-brown strokes—like heavy clouds or fog. The brushwork is loose and rough, almost like the artist slapped the paint on. This style was new for its time. Check out impasto to see how thick paint can change a painting’s feel.
