Ville d’Avray

After an initial viewing of Jean Baptiste-Camille Corot's Ville d'Avray (c. 1867), an oil on canvas landscape depicting the artist's home commune in the western suburbs of Paris, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the woman in the foreground appears to be using an industrial-grade leaf blower (backpack model), absolutely pummeling the man to the right with leaves, twigs, and other debris. Who knew that such a brilliant technology existed in nineteenth century France. Seriously , though, one of my all-time favorite landscapes is Corot's View from the Farnese Gardens, Rome (c.1826), which I first discovered in person at Washington, D.C.'s Phillips Collection, and which now sits on my desk (unfortunately, in postcard form).

Ville d'Avray

View from the Farnese Gardens, Rome