A brief history of landscape painting

Landscapes are now one of the most popular subjects in art. However, landscape painting has not always been as popular as it is today. One of the main reasons it hasn't always been so popular is because it can be quite difficult. There are many things to think about when creating a landscape painting, such as color, perspective, texture, light ... the list goes on and on! Painting landscapes gradually became popular as many artists wanted to tackle the difficulties associated with it.

Renaissance

Landscapes began to experience a surge in popularity in the Renaissance era. The artists looked again at how the Greeks and the Romans represented landscapes and learned to appreciate them again. However, landscape painting was not yet a subject in itself. Artists would use landscapes as backgrounds for portraits and religious scenes. Little by little they learned to manipulate them to reflect the feelings expressed by the subjects in the foreground.

17th century

In the 17th century there were two countries where landscape painting flourished: Italy and the Netherlands. After the northern Netherlands became independent from Spain, people did not want religious figures in the paintings because they were associated with Spanish rule. Dutch painters began to paint Dutch landscapes. Italy and its landscapes became a great source of inspiration for many Dutch painters. The Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci was well known for incorporating highly detailed background landscapes into his paintings. At the end of the 18th century, landscape painting became a subject in its own right and was recognized by the royal academies as such. This paved the way for one of the earliest genres of American art, using landscapes to represent American history.

France and Great Britain

In the 18th century, the popularity of landscape painting had spread throughout Europe. This was thanks in part to people who explored different countries and cultures as part of a grand tour. Several landscape painters gained prominence thanks to their work and innovation. The Italian painter Canaletto gained fame for his paintings from Venice. Watteau in France added people who enjoy country walks and picnics to its landscaping companies . The English painter Gainsborough would build small landscape models to make his paintings more accurate.

Photography

Photographs could capture landscapes exactly as they were. Artists no longer felt the need to portray landscapes as accurately as possible. They began to experiment and interpret landscapes in new and creative ways. The new equipment allowed outdoor painting, which grew in popularity very quickly. Many artists would venture out into the world and paint landscapes spontaneously as they encountered them. Social scenes became an intrinsic part of many paintings, as artists captured people enjoying the countryside.

21st century

Landscape painting is still a popular subject today. Many artists continue to experiment with new equipment, new forms of media, and new ways of interpreting landscapes. Some artists combine landscapes with urban landscapes, providing a contrast between the natural and the artificial. As long as there are beautiful landscapes, landscape painting will always remain popular.