This painting shows us a view on Montmartre by Georges Michel. This landscape captures the essence of Montmartre before it became the bustling artistic hub known today. Michel’s depiction emphasizes the natural beauty and rustic charm of the area, showcasing a serene yet dramatic scene. The buildings of the village, rendered in dark, muted tones, contrast with the lighter hues of the surrounding landscape. Above the village, the iconic windmills of Montmartre stand prominently on the hilltops, symbols of the area’s historical connection to milling. The sky is filled with swirling, dark clouds that suggest an approaching storm. The interplay of light and shadow across the landscape creates a sense of depth and movement, highlighting Michel’s mastery in capturing the transient effects of weather and atmosphere.

Michel always painted within a small area limited to the surroundings of Paris. He commented that ‘whoever cannot paint within an area of four leagues is an unskilled artist who seeks the mandrake and will only ever find a void.”

In the first quarter of the nineteenth century Montmartre was still a picturesque suburb of Paris, where about forty windmills could be seen. Michel loved this stretch of land and painted many views of it throughout his career. He was often referred to as the “Ruisdael of Montmartre”. His work remains a significant historical record of Montmartre’s picturesque past, offering a glimpse into the tranquil rural landscape that once was.

Second half of the 19th century, Montmartre’s rural character and relatively low rent attracted a burgeoning community of artists, writers, and performers. This period marked the beginning of Montmartre’s golden age as a bohemian enclave. Renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec lived and worked in the area, drawn by its vibrant and supportive artistic community. Today, Montmartre retains much of its historic charm with its narrow, winding streets, artistic heritage, and bustling squares such as Place du Tertre, where artists continue to set up their easels. While it has become a popular tourist destination, Montmartre remains a living testament to its rich history, continuing to inspire artists and visitors from around the world.

Georges Michel was a French landscape painter and he was known for his evocative and atmospheric depictions of rural and natural scenes. Michel was born in Paris and spent much of his life in the surrounding areas, capturing the landscapes of the Ile-de-France region with a distinct romantic sensibility. Michel’s work was heavily influenced by the Dutch landscape painters of the 17th century, particularly Jacob van Ruisdael. His paintings are characterized by their dramatic skies, strong contrasts of light and shadow, and a sense of movement in the natural elements.

In 1791 Michel debuted at the Salon, where he continued to exhibit regularly.
Although he received little recognition during his lifetime, Michel’s work gained appreciation posthumously. He was rediscovered by the Impressionist art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel, who promoted his work in France and in Europe, contributing to his becoming an important 19thcentury landscape painter. Despite never achieving much success during his lifetime, Michel was admired by the realist landscape painters of the mid-nineteenth century and praised by Van Gogh in letters to his brother. George Michel’s dedication to painting en plein air, or outdoors, set him apart from many of his contemporaries and allowed him to capture the transient effects of light and weather with remarkable authenticity. Today his works are found in museums around the world, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Hermitage, Vanderbilt University Gallery, Strasbourg Musée des Beaux-Arts, Victoria and Albert Museum, and many others.

DID YOU KNOW? That around 1800, Michel was employed by the Musée du Louvre to restore their Flemish and Dutch paintings, and it was in this capacity that he developed a true understanding of the technique of his predecessors.