Lunch on the Way to Asnieres (Le Dejeuner du depart a Asnieres)

Art Historical Context

Charles-François Daubigny, leading figure in the Barbizon school of landscape painting, captures a serene moment of everyday leisure in *Lunch on the Way to Asn (Le Dejeuner du a Asnieres)*, etching from 1862 This work depicts travelers pausing for a picnic en route to Asnières, a picturesque suburb along the Seine River near Paris, evoking the simple joys of 19th-century French rural life. Daubign affinity for natural light and atmospheric effects, honed through his plein-air sketching, shines through even in this intimate print format. As an etching, the piece showcases Daubigny's mastery of the medium, where acid etches intricate lines into a metal plate to create rich, tonal depth and subtle textures—ideal for conveying the dappled sunlight and soft foliage typical of his style. A precursor to Impressionism, Daubigny influenced artists like Monet and Van Gogh with his focus on unidealized nature and human harmony within it. Produced during the Second Empire era, when leisure outings boomed with expanding rail travel, this print reflects broader cultural shifts toward accessible recreation. Now housed in the National Gallery of Art's prints portfolio (Department CG-E), this etching was generously gifted by Joan Lees in memory of Edward Lees, M.D. It invites visitors to appreciate how Daubigny democratized art through affordable prints, bridging fine art and public enjoyment.

About the Artist

Charles-François Daubigny · 1817–1878

Charles-François Daubigny was born on February 15, 1817, in Paris into a family of artists, with his father, Edmé-François Daubigny, a classical landscape painter, and his uncle, Pierre Daubigny, a miniaturist, providing his initial artistic training. He further studied under Jean-Victor Bertin, Jacques Raymond Brascassat, and Paul Delaroche at the École des Beaux-Arts, though he quickly moved bey...