Artwork
October
October is an oil painting by the Barbizon school artist Charles François Daubigny. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on canvas. The handling emphasizes fluid, atmospheric effects typical of mid-nineteenth-century French landscape practice, with loose, blended brushwork that dissolves detail into a luminous haze of light and atmosphere. The composition’s horizontal format and expansive recession create a panoramic effect, aligning with the Barbizon school’s interest in naturalistic yet evocative landscape.
The painting’s condition is not discussed in the cited sources; however, the clearly legible impasto in the foreground foliage and the overall preservation of the chromatic layer indicate stable conservation.
History & Provenance
According to Wikidata records, it was owned by Maria Catharina barones van Pallandt before entering the museum's holdings.
Charles-François Daubigny created the oil painting October in 1850. Executed on canvas, the work measures 87.5 cm in height and 160.5 cm in width. The painting entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum through the ownership of Maria Catharina, Baroness van Pallandt. It is classified as a landscape painting and remains held by the Rijksmuseum.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands. According to Wikidata records, it was owned by Maria Catharina barones van Pallandt before entering the museum's holdings.
No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Created circa 1850, October is an oil painting by French artist Charles‑François Daubigny. Executed in a landscape format, it portrays a quiet countryside scene under a muted sky. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies Daubigny’s focus on rural subjects during the mid‑nineteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts a low‑lying field edged with scattered trees and distant farm structures, while a heap of logs and assorted debris occupies the foreground. A gray, cloud‑filled sky stretches overhead, punctuated by a few birds in flight, suggesting the transitional atmosphere of early autumn and the modest rhythms of agrarian life.
Context
Daubigny’s work reflects the Barbizon school’s emphasis on painting directly from nature, moving away from idealized classical landscapes. By focusing on ordinary rural settings and employing a more spontaneous technique, he contributed to the evolving dialogue that would later shape the Impressionist movement in France.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles-François Daubigny ( DOH-bin-yee, US: DOH-been-YEE, doh-BEEN-yee, French:; 15 February 1817 – 19 February 1878) was a French painter, one of the members of the Barbizon school, and is considered an important precursor of…
