Charles-Francois Daubigny painted “The Flood-Gate at Optevoz” in 1859. The painting depicts a river and a flood-gate in the Realism style, using oil on canvas with dimensions of 73 x 48.5 cm. A variant of this painting was displayed at the Exposition Universelle of 1885 and is now housed in the Musee de Rouen.
Daubigny, who was part of the Barbizon school movement, played an essential role in Impressionism’s rise to fame as a pioneer painter. He was given knighthood status for Legion of Honour back in 1859 and got promoted to be an officer later on.
Daubigny’s artwork perfectly captured nature’s beauty while representing daily life as well, making his paintings very relatable to people from all walks of life. Daubigny’s vivid representation has been helpful to art enthusiasts worldwide, drawing them closer to French art and history.
“The Flood-Gate at Optevoz” remains one of Daubigny’s most famous works today because it reflects an important period that affected many local communities living along flooded rivers during rainy seasons.
Overall, “The Flood-Gate at Optevoz” is a masterpiece that showcases Daubigny’s unique style complementing the subjects he chooses for his work accurately.
