Lake of Brientz (1885)

This page presents "Lake of Brientz" (1885), created by George Barnard. Context for 1885: Japanese prints reached Europe in large numbers and influenced many artists, while photography changed what painting needed to do. In the 1890s, colour lithography and Art Nouveau made the illustrated poster a celebrated art form. Background on Illustration: The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are often described as a golden age of book and magazine illustration. Illustration serves a text or a story, a tradition that runs from decorated medieval manuscripts to printed book plates, magazines, and posters. The catalogue places it in Illustration. The format is landscape.

"Lake of Brientz" is shown in the onlly.art catalogue for reference and browsing. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Illustrative graphics are valued for their decorative line work and narrative quality, which makes them a strong fit for gallery walls, kids rooms, studies, and more intimate interiors. Browsing works by the same artist, or from the same period, is a good way to compare styles before choosing what suits your space.

English, 1807-1890

If you like the visual language of George Barnard, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.