The village of Porthoe on the banks of the Seine

Artist Charles-François Daubigny represented the second generation of Barbizon artists. After constructing a studio on his boat, he traveled a great deal along the Seine and Oise Rivers, creating a series of works that captured the views of northern France. The landscape Village of Portejoie on the Seine, depicting a hamlet located near Louviers, is part of a similar work series. This piece is simultaneously a study and a finished painting, and he always started work on it en plein air. Daubigny was especially sensitive to conveying the time of day, the special characteristics of lighting, and the fleeting enchantment of the motif. The artist’s palette is distinctive in its light color scheme, and his composition stands out in its free and natural arrangement of the details.