5 Things to Know About the Barbizon School and Its Influence on Impressionism

The Barbizon School, a French landscape movement from the mid-19th century, did not have an official structure or a manifesto. It took its name from the village of Barbizon, located near Fontainebleau, which became an artists' colony following the enhancement of rail access. At its height, the area comprised a single street and around forty homes, with the hotel that accommodated painters now serving as a museum. Rejecting traditional academic standards, artists depicted scenes of the contemporary French countryside, emphasizing natural light. Initially, critics overlooked their work, and Millet's 'The Gleaners' (1857) incited outrage among the elite. Techniques such as loose brushwork and the use of portable paint tubes paved the way for Impressionism, influencing artists like Degas and Manet. The legacy of Barbizon, upheld by the museum and artists like Corot and Millet, is vital to the evolution of modern landscape painting.