Giovanni Segantini
Let's move to the sunny Alps!
The painting depicts a serene pastoral scene bathed in the dazzling sunlight of the clear highland air. It is a peaceful and bright midday, characteristic of the mountainous Swiss landscape. To emphasize this luminous impression, the artist uses a pure color palette dominated by yellow, blue, and white, filling the canvas with delicate brushstrokes. You can see Neo-Impressionists such as Seurat and Signac's had a huge influence on the painter who created today's work.
Particularly striking is the depiction of the grassland, where each blade of grass seems to be painted individually. With the horizon placed relatively high, a large portion of the canvas is occupied by this field, evoking an overwhelming sensation of golden light. The scene masterfully captures the Alpine highlands near Italy, a region Segantini knew well, bringing its fresh atmosphere and crisp air to life.
Giovanni Segantini was born in Arco, a town in the Trentino region of northern Italy. At the time, however, this area was still under Austrian rule and had not yet been returned to Italy, meaning that he could never obtain Italian citizenship. This misfortune followed him throughout his life, and despite numerous attempts, he was never officially recognized as Italian. In 1881, he was nominated for the prestigious Prince Umberto Award, given annually to the best Italian painting in Milan, but was denied the prize because he was considered a foreigner. Later, when Milan’s Brera Academy offered him an honorary title, he declined the recognition—possibly in connection to this past injustice.
P.S. Giovanni Segantini loved mountains, which eventually cost him his life. Learn more about Segantini's art and his tragic story.
P.P.S. Seeing art is one thing, but there is also feeling art. If you'd like to learn about it, here's something for you - our free online course, How to Look at Art :)