In the early nineteenth century, artists spent almost all their time inside studios. Instead of going outside, artists would usually sketch and paint from existing sketchings and paintings.
The goal wasn’t to paint as realistically as possible, but as beautifully as possible.
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was different. He started taking his paint outside.
Traverse City-based artist Joan Richmond says Corot was an important link in leaving behind the idealized world in painting.