The Song of the Lark
1884
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1884
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
You see a peasant girl standing in a field, looking up at the sky. She's stopped working to listen to a lark singing. The sun is rising behind her, casting a warm glow over the scene. This moment of natural beauty is what makes the painting interesting - it shows the girl's emotional response to the simple things in life. The artist's use of light and color brings out her feelings. Look up the technique of chiaroscuro to learn more about how artists use light and dark to create mood in their work.
