Trees on a Mountainside

"Trees on a Mountainside" is a distinctive print created in 1856 by the influential French landscape painter, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796-1875). This work is executed using the specialized technique of cliché-verre, a hybrid process combining drawing and photography. Corot was a crucial figure in popularizing this experimental medium in France during the mid-19th century. The process involved coating a glass plate with an opaque layer, scratching the image directly into the coating, and then using the resulting "negative" to expose light-sensitive paper, specifically ivory photographic paper, creating a unique type of print.

The composition captures a rugged, atmospheric landscape, typical of Corot’s later output, focusing on the dark silhouettes of trees against a brighter background that defines the mountainous terrain. The technique itself lends a delicate, almost painterly quality to the finished piece, blurring the lines between traditional graphic art and early photography. Unlike standard etching or lithography, the cliché-verre process allowed Corot to achieve the soft, tonal gradations characteristic of his oil paintings while still producing reproducible images. This pervasive emphasis on light and atmosphere cemented Corot’s reputation as a vital precursor to Impressionism.

The intimate scale and unique texture demonstrate why these rare cliché-verre prints are highly valued in the history of 19th-century graphic art. This significant piece of French history is housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a masterwork from a foundational period in art history, the image, like many important historical prints, contributes to the visual record of the era, and often enters the public domain, ensuring its continued study and appreciation globally.