Bank of the Somme (Bords de la Somme)

Art Historical Context

Jules Dupré’s 1836 lithograph *Bank of the Somme (Bords de la Som)* captures a tranquil stretch of riverbank in northern France. Created early in the artist’s career, the print reflects the growing 19th-century fascination with natural scenery and the shift toward direct observation of the landscape. Dupré, later a leading figure of the Barbizon School, already shows his sensitivity to light and atmosphere in this modest yet evocative scene. As a lithograph, the work benefited from a medium that allowed artists to reproduce the spontaneity of drawing while reaching a wider audience. Prints such as this one helped popularize the Barbizon painters’ emphasis on humble, unidealized views of the French countryside. Today, the impression in the National Gallery of Art’s Rosenwald Collection preserves Dupré’s fresh response to the quiet beauty of the Somme valley.

About the Artist

Jules Dupré · 1811–1889

Jules Dupré (1811–1889) was born in Nantes, France, on April 5, the son of a porcelain manufacturer. He began his artistic career in his father's factory before moving to paint porcelain at his uncle's china factory in Sèvres. Lacking formal training or a specific teacher, Dupré debuted at the Paris Salon in 1831, earning a second-class medal three years later. A pivotal trip to England in 1834 ex...