Spring in Brittany

Paul Sébillot French

Not on view


Sébillot’s landscapes reflect his passion for his native region of Brittany in northern France. The crucifix-like forms of the trees in this work evoke popular notions of deep-rooted, unsullied Breton spirituality. During a rainy painting expedition in 1877, the artist spent time documenting traditional stories told by local peasants—an experience that inspired his later career as a scholar of French folklore. Sébillot’s son sent this picture on the Merci Train that toured the United States in 1949, filled with gifts from French citizens grateful for American aid in the wake of World War II.

Spring in Brittany, Paul Sébillot (French, Matignon 1843–1918 Paris), Oil on wood

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.