Forêt de Fontainebleau – Au plateau brûlé

On display is "Forêt de Fontainebleau – Au plateau brûlé," a captivating painting by the renowned French artist Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. This work, painted in the 19th century, showcases a spellbinding view of the Forest of Fontainebleau, specifically a section known as the "Burnt Plateau." The scene embraces the raw beauty and rugged terrain of the area, renowned for its inspirational qualities among artists of the Barbizon school, to which Corot was closely associated.In the painting, Corot masterfully captures the contrasting textures and shadows of the rocky landscape. Dominated by a palette of earthy tones, the desolate yet striking composition depicts scattered boulders and sparse vegetation under a broad expanse of a soft blue sky, punctuated by fluffy, white clouds. A stark, leafless tree to the right stands as a poignant reminder of the forest's vulnerability, possibly affected by natural events or human activity that lent the plateau its name.The loose brushstrokes and the play of light and shadow convey a sense of immediacy and the fleeting nature of the moment, characteristics that are emblematic of Corot's approach to landscape painting. This piece not only reflects Corot's deep connection with nature but also invites viewers to contemplate the serene and sometimes solemn beauty of the natural world.