Despite his membership in the "Barbizon School", Corot (1796-1875) is considered to be a classic who gained importance because of his landscape painting. Even though his artistic imagination remained classic, his improvisational style of painting showed much individual freedom. His unique nature of atmosphere and light is regarded as a significant contribution to painting.

Corot was born as a son of a cloth merchant on 16 July 1796 and learned this craft according to the wish of his parents. Only at the age of 26 he began to study landscape painting whereas Poussin and Lorrain were permanent role models for him. Water was a truly fascinating motif for Corot because of its silvery shimmer. These images radiate poetic silence, which made him one of the most capable representatives of the poetic landscape art in the eyes of critics. Corot's favorite motif is the country house of his parents in Ville-Davray with its quiet pond and lush, flower-filled meadows. The artist took painterly freedom for his portraits as well, amongst which the paintings of women are to be emphasized.

Corot was a loner who didn't use intensive contacts with other circles of painters. Nevertheless, particularly his history paintings evoked admiration among his contemporaries. However, it was only Gustave Courbet whom he greatly appreciated.

Due to the differentiated gradation of colors which created an atmospheric charm, Corot's works were role models for the Impressionism. Corot demanded that the artist should submit entirely to the immediate impression and was the first to apply the term "impression". He died at the age of 79 on 02.22.1875 in Paris.