Daubigny's great innovation was to capture nature in a spontaneous approach. His tonal values, his way of mixing colours directly onto the canvas, and his delicate touch became paramount to his style. Building up the painting layers gradually and retaining a sketch-like quality in his composition, Daubigny translated nature's effects in the most honest and literal way.

[...] Long live the countryside and nature which serve as harmonic register for all good and beautiful things [...]   Charles-François Daubigny Letter to La Rochenoire, 27 July 1874, in Michel 1904, p.56 ]

From 1860 onwards, Daubigny became a master of the river scene genre, developing a style of broad views at times taken from the riverbank or from his boat.

Alongside these paintings, the artist continued his series of works on paper, such as his novel volume of etchings, Le Voyage en Bateau published in 1862. Using different techniques such as engravings, sanguine or drawings, the artist captured the life on the river, WhicH offered a way to complement his painting practice.

Characterised by THE unique use of light effects and fluid brushstrokes, Daubigny’s paintings after 1857 convey feelings of spontaneity and truthfulness.

His work focuses on an emotional response to the landscape, breaking away from the traditional ‘salon’ paintings that depict historical scenes and portraits. Much of Daubigny’s time was spent on his studio boat – or Le Botin as he called it – another of his significant innovations which allowed him to capture the transitional, temporal character of nature. We see these subsequent effects, in the paintings he made on board, whilst tracing the water’s pathways along the Seine, the Oise and frequently, around the region of Auvers. Daubigny’s innovations, such as this, paved the way for fresh experiments in landscape painting.

Look at any landscape by Daubigny: it is the very soul of nature that speaks to you [ Emile Zola in his comments about Daubigny's works at the Paris World’s Fair in 1878 ]

I was not able to work in the several excursions and ascensions made in the neighborhood, where it was very beautiful. One is so surprised by these grand aspects that it would be necessary to remain a long time before finding the interpretation capable of rendering them. I am going to finish the season at Auvers. There is nothing like one's natural every-day surroundings where one really takes pleasure. The pictures we do then feel the effect of their home-life, and the sweet sensations we experience in it.“

 

Charles-François Daubigny- Quote in Daubigny's letter to his friend Frédéric Henriet, 1872