The artwork “Plain of Gennevilliers” was created by Gustave Caillebotte in 1884. It is an oil on canvas painting that measures 54 x 65 cm and belongs to the Impressionism movement. This landscape genre painting is currently housed in the Museo Botero in Bogotá, Colombia.
The artwork depicts a rural scene characterized by the vast open spaces typical of the French countryside around Gennevilliers, which Caillebotte frequented and where he owned property. The perspective is dominated by expansive fields under an overcast sky, conveying a sense of tranquility and breadth. On the right, a swath of brilliant yellow flowers draws the viewer’s eye along a path that runs parallel to rows of cultivated green crops. A dirt road, its reddish-brown hue creating a stark contrast to the surrounding shades of green and yellow, meanders through the left side of the composition and leads towards a hazy, distant horizon where the outlines of buildings can be faintly discerned. The light, nearly uniform sky suggests a diffused lighting condition, which softens the colors throughout the scene. Caillebotte’s brushwork is careful and controlled, demonstrating his unique approach to the Impressionist style, often referred to as a more precise and realistic interpretation compared to his contemporaries.
