Description
Landscape with Stars(also known as "Star Study" or "L'Air du soir") is a work by the French painter Henri-Edmond Cross, created in 1903-1904. Cross was a key figure in the development of the Neo-Impressionist movement, and his work influenced later artists such as Henri Matisse and André Derain, who were instrumental in the Fauvist movement.
What makes Starscape interesting is the combination of Neo-Impressionist techniques and symbolic elements, demonstrating the evolution of Cross's style at the time the painting was created. Cross uses the technique of color division, characteristic of Neo-Impressionism, which consists of applying small brushstrokes of juxtaposed pure colors instead of previously mixing them on the palette. This technique allows colors to blend optically on the viewer's retina, producing a unique luminosity and color vibrancy.
In Landscape with stars, Cross paints a night landscape in which the starry sky is the protagonist. The work presents an intense and contrasting color palette, with blue and green tones in the sky and vegetation, and warm tones in the stars and the horizon. The choice of colors and the depiction of stars in the painting suggest an influence from the work of Vincent van Gogh, especially his iconic painting "The Starry Night".
The symbolic element in Paisaje con estrellas is found in the interpretation of the night landscape as a representation of spirituality and the sublime. The night and the stars have historically been associated with transcendence and connection to the universe, and it is likely that Cross wanted to evoke these ideas in his work.
In addition to its importance in the development of Neo-Impressionism and its influence on subsequent art movements, "Starry Landscape" is also notable for the way it reflects Cross's fascination with light and nature.
Cross used to spend long periods of time in the south of France, specifically in the Provence region, where the landscapes and Mediterranean light had a significant impact on his work. The setting in "Paisaje con estrellas" may have been inspired by the natural landscapes the artist experienced in that region.
Regarding the technique, it is important to mention that Cross was a pioneer in the evolution of pointillism to divisionism. Although both styles are based on the idea of applying small brush strokes of pure colors so that they blend optically on the viewer's retina, Divisionism is characterized by longer and less rigid brush strokes compared to Pointillism. In "Starry Landscape," Cross uses a combination of pointillist and divisionist brushwork, demonstrating the evolution of his style and his experimentation with technique.
It is also relevant to highlight the relationship of Paisaje con estrellas with other artists and movements of the time. As I mentioned earlier, there is a connection to the work of Vincent van Gogh, but a relationship can also be found with Symbolism, an artistic and literary movement that sought to represent spirituality, emotions, and abstract ideas through symbols and metaphors. In this sense, the night landscape and the stars in Cross's painting can be interpreted as a symbol of transcendence and mysticism.
Taken together, Henri-Edmond Cross's famous work is a painting that combines Neo-Impressionist technique with a symbolic approach and a fascination with nature and light. The work is a testament to Cross's artistic evolution and its impact on the development of modern art in Europe during the 20th century.