Landscape with Large Trees
1870
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1870
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see thick, dark trees standing in a misty field, their branches reaching across the sky. Courbet didn’t paint a real place. He mixed memories—Swiss mountains, his French hometown, and old landscape paintings—into one scene. The hazy background makes the trees feel close, almost like they’re breathing. He started with soft charcoal, then pressed harder to add sharp details. If you like this quiet, moody style, look up sfumato.
