Millet and Corot (Famous Paintings Series)

[Hakugado's "Famous Paintings Story Series"] The "Famous Paintings Story Series" was created with the desire to create an environment where children could easily experience authentic art. This picture book collection features large, vibrant images, and traces the lives of artists through easy-to-understand text alongside famous paintings. Since its first publication in 1992, it has been enjoyed by many families as an "art experience that can be enjoyed at home." Child education experts have also praised it, saying, "It's especially important for children to know the real thing. Exposing children to good art from an early age will help develop their sensibilities." Adults can also enjoy it as an introductory art book. *This book has been selected by the Japan Library Association/National Council of School Libraries and is recommended for use in school textbooks.

Series introduction page: https://www.hakugado.co.jp Series introduction blog: https://www.hakugado.co.jp/%e3%83%96%e3%83%ad%e3%82%b0

[Recommendation from Takashi Yanase] As a child, I loved art, so from a young age I grew up looking at the complete art collections in my father's study. However, they were all aimed at adults, so I couldn't understand the explanatory text. I wanted to know more about the artist's personality. I wanted to know what kind of person created this painting, but the technical details were difficult to understand. This "Famous Paintings Story Series" has large prints and vivid images, making it interesting enough for adults as well as children to read, and I think it triples the fun and enjoyment of looking at the paintings.

Volume 15: "Millet and Corot" (B4 variant, 64 full-color pages, 43 illustrations) Barbizon is a farming village connected to the Fontainebleau Forest in north-central France. The mid-19th-century artists who loved Barbizon and worked there are known as the "Barbizon School." Millet and Corot are representative examples of this group. Corot painted many beautiful landscapes of Fontainebleau, while Millet painted many paintings of the people working in Barbizon.

At a time when conflict raged between the aristocracy and the wealthy and the peasants and laborers, resulting in numerous major riots in the streets of Paris, Millet's portrayals of hardworking poor people were sometimes viewed as dangerous by conservatives. Nevertheless, Millet stuck to his beliefs and devoted himself wholeheartedly to his art, enduring his impoverished life. His works had a profound influence on later artists such as Van Gogh and Dali, and are now beloved worldwide.

On the other hand, Corot, who loved music and opera, produced many beautiful, poetic landscapes that seem to dance and sing. Corot is one of the important painters who established the landscape painting genre. In his later years, he also painted many portraits. Unlike other painters, Corot believed it was fine for his models to move, talk, and even sing. He enjoyed painting while enjoying conversations with his models.

Millet and Corot's ideas about painting were passed down to the Impressionists who followed them. This book features 26 works by Millet, 16 by Corot, and one work by Théodore Rousseau, all printed in large, beautiful sizes, allowing you to enjoy the lives of these two artists.