Autumn Leaves in Landscapes of Famous Artists

Introduction

As a kickoff to November, I'd like to show landscapes that celebrate the colors of Autumn leaves. The artists will pretty much be from the 19th through the 21st centuries.

Wooded Path in Autumn (1902), Brendekilde

My first example is a colorful Autumn masterpiece by Danish artist, Hans Anderson Brendekilde. I love the vibrant colors, and the figures in the foreground and background make for a welcoming scene. This would be a fine place for a cool, brisk walk. I am, however, confused by the reflection of the green tree, though it does provide balance to the composition.

19th Century

The Cenotaph To Reynolds’ Memory
(1836), John Constable

My next more wintery example is this classic tribute to Sir Joshua Reynolds. While in the UK in 2017, I was afforded the opportunity to see the work of both of these artists -- Constable's landscapes and Reynolds' portraits. The monument depicted here was erected in Coleorton, Leicestershire, England in the Winter Garden by George Beaumont in honor of one of the many artists he supported. Although this painting may seem monochromatic, Constable was famous for painting with "a thousand greens" in his landscapes. You have to see it in person!

Autumn on the Seine
at Argenteuil (1873), Monet

Autumn Effect
at Argenteuil (1873), Monet

Monet painted several Autumn scenes along the Seine River near Argenteuil. Although the first painting horizontally uses the rule-of-thirds, his colors make it look like only half-Autumn. I much prefer his second version, "Autumn Effect..." which is much more seasonally consistent. 

He's edited out the boats though it looks like he painted it

from a similar vantage point and on a less overcast day.

The Studio Boat (1876), Monet

My favorite of Monet's Autumn water scenes has to be The Studio Boat. There's another version with a closeup of the boat and the people inside.

Gathering Autumn Leaves (1877), Homer

The following year, we have Winslow Homer’s Gathering Autumn Leaves. This painting feels like one of Andrew Wyeth's portraits to me. I love the sharp angles and shadows.

Autumn Landscape, near Pontoise (1871-72), Pissarro

Another of my favorites is impressionist, Camille Pissarro. I like the depth he was able to achieve with the hill in the foreground, the clearing in the middle ground, and the small white house in the background and below the horizon. Unlike his earlier Landscape at Louveciennes (Autumn) (1870), the colors are more saturated and the brushstrokes seem less like those of an impressionist. I'd like to see this one in person.

Jules Le Coeur Walking
With His Dogs (1866), Renoir

I am somewhat reluctant to show this painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir because I have not seen it in person and I, therefore, do not know its original color scheme. I've also seen it depicted in much darker greens and almost black hues. Anyway, it is a portrait of his friend, architect-turned-painter, Jules Le Coeur walking in the Fontainbleau Forest with his Dogs. He apparently painted this outdoors and in his studio.

Landscape with Trees (1881), Van Gogh

I've said it before, it is exciting to discover paintings by Vincent Van Gogh that I haven't seen before. Here, the artist uses a limited color palette of brown and gold, much like the Constable painting above. Check out Van Gogh in Holland for more of his uncharacteristically less-colorful landscapes from 1881-86.

20th Century

Birch Forest I (1902), Gustav Klimt

As we proceed into the 20th century, I want to highlight Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt, who is known as a symbolist who primarily painted the female body. This landscape is somewhat of a departure for Klimt. He has brightened up an otherwise dark forest by using tiny brushstrokes that give his Autumn leaves a shimmering quality. Klimt had a style all his own, though I am reminded of Pointillist Georges Seurat's dots and Henri Matisse's paper cutouts. It also has a surreal, dreamlike quality.

Autumn Leaves (1913), Sargent

One of my favorite artists is John Singer Sargent, who is famous for

his paintings of turn-of-the-century women.

Autumn Leaves (1924), O'Keeffe

When I was very young and living in Northern New Jersey, my family would vacation at a resort in Lake George, NY. Georgia O’Keeffe painted several versions of Autumn Leaves while in Lake George. I wish that I had seen these when I taught a lesson where we made compositions from tracings of leaf shapes. Instead, we learned about Cubism and Picasso and traced leaf shapes in a value study using geometric shapes in the background. I'll have to think of a project inspired by O'Keeffe.

Value Study/Cubism Leaves, Glenridge Elementary

Celebrating Three 21st Century Women Artists

Autumn Leaves by Aleyna Isik

Saatchi Art is a great source for buying or viewing art. Here is an oil painting of leaves by Turkish artist, Aleyna Isik.

Autumn Leaves (2015), Kim Testone

I also found this acrylic painting by Kim Testone of Upstate New York. In her blog, Paintings by Kim Testone, she gives step-by-step instructions on daily paintings of leaves.

Quiescent, Patricia J. Moss

One of my colleagues, Patricia J. Moss, from the Black Diamond Arts Alliance, painted this beautiful oil painting of Autumn leaves. I wonder if she was inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe. You can find out in my next Interview With an Artist.