Gust of Wind

"Gust of Wind," by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (French, 1796-1875), created in 1871, is a delicate and atmospheric example of the artist's proficiency in graphic arts. The work is classified as a print, specifically a transfer lithograph, executed on tan China paper that was meticulously laid down onto a support sheet of white wove paper. This complex medium allowed Corot to achieve the soft, velvety texture and subtle gradations of tone characteristic of his late period.

Corot, a seminal figure in 19th-century landscape painting, frequently utilized printmaking to explore variations on his thematic interests, focusing heavily on light, shadow, and the transient dynamics of nature. Though renowned for his expansive, silvery oil canvases, this lithograph demonstrates the artist’s ability to evoke profound feeling and movement using only monochrome values and linear economy. The title suggests a momentary, dynamic shift in the natural environment-a subject often explored in the emerging realism of the period in France.

Dating from four years before the artist's death, Gust of Wind encapsulates Corot's enduring commitment to the integrity of the pastoral scene, offering a contemplative view that bridges classical landscape traditions and the Impressionist movement. As an important piece of 19th-century print culture, this work is held within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, contributing to the museum's comprehensive survey of French graphic arts.