Villerville Seen from Le Ratier

Charles François Daubigny was a French landscape painter of the 19th century known for his naturalistic depictions of rivers, meadows, and woodland scenes. He worked primarily in oil on canvas, developing a direct observational approach that emphasized light and atmospheric effects over romantic drama. Daubigny's fluid brushwork and commitment to plein air study influenced the development of Impressionism, though his practice remained rooted in a more structured Barbizon aesthetic. He painted extensively along the Oise and Seine rivers, establishing a methodical engagement with a single landscape across seasons and times of day.

Paris, France