Please note: I am NOT an Art Historian. This is a summary of some quick research and observations of my own. Just to be clear, my research included reading actual books.
I love painting a landscape!
As you can probably tell by looking over this website, I specialize in creating works of art which depict a variety of scenery.
What makes a painting a Landscape painting?
A landscape in art is simply defined as an artistic representation of countryside or other scenery. Buildings can be included. Animals and figures can be present, but they’re not the primary focus of the painting.
When did Landscape Painting start as an art form?
Early in art history, paintings were usually created for educational or religious purposes; they told a story. The backgrounds of these paintings often had simple landscapes, just to set the scene. The landscapes were part of the story, but never the star of the show.
Over time the background scenery got more and more detailed and realistic. In the Renaissance period, in the 1400 and 1500’s, artists began experimenting with creating more depth in their work with the use of linear perspective and atmospheric perspective.
Linear perspective creates the illusion of depth by using receding lines. Think of a straight run of railroad tracks, with the tracks converging in the distance.
Atmospheric Perspective is a technique used to suggest depth in a flat work by making far away objects bluer and less defined than the objects which are closer.
Landscape comes into its own
In the 15th century, artists in The Netherlands began painting secular, non-religious landscapes. But the practice didn’t catch on elsewhere until the 17th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the practice of landscape painting became an acceptable and popular form of art.
The landscape painting, in the talented hands of varied artists, takes on many forms. Albert Bierstadt painted monumental, romanticized, and highly detailed pieces from the American west.
Impressionists like Claude Monet preferred to paint everyday life, therefore his landscapes were beautiful, serene, and straightforward depictions of the world he lived in.
Vincent Van Gogh painted subject matter similar to his contemporaries, but in a much more stylized presentation.
Landscape painting in the world today.
While I don’t have precise numbers, looking through any online art directory, it seems that landscape artists make up a majority of painters, with thousands of individual styles and techniques. Landscape art has made its way into popular culture via Bob Ross and Thomas Kinkaid.
And who can forget the Ron Swanson quote from the TV show Parks and Rec : “It’s pointless for a human to paint scenes of nature when they can go outside and stand in it.”
Which begs the question: Why do I do it, and why do people like it?
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Mr French, you definitely have been give’ed a talent!
I throughly enjoy your gift.
May I ask you if your from Kansas? I was trained in my profession by a John French & just wonder if you might be him?!
Hello, Cathryn! I am not from Kansas, and I’ve never lived or worked there. May I ask what profession?
Thank you for your kind words, and for looking!!