The Kitchen Garden, Yerres

The Kitchen Garden, Yerres (1876) is an oil painting on canvas by the French artist Gustave Caillebotte (1848–1894), a member and patron of the Impressionists who painted in a more realistic manner than many others in the group ^[1]. The work depicts the walled kitchen garden at the artist's family estate in Yerres, a subject that recurs throughout his career ^[4].

The artist: Caillebotte's realism within Impressionism

Caillebotte was born in Paris on 19 August 1848 and died on 21 February 1894 ^[1]. He was known for his early interest in photography as an art form, and because of his family's wealth, he acted as a patron to many of his fellow Impressionists ^[1]. Upon his death, his bequeathed collection of their works became the central collection of Impressionism for the French Republic, despite considerable controversy ^[1]. Although long regarded for his philanthropy and support as a patron and promoter of Impressionism, Caillebotte did not receive an international retrospective of his work until 1994, one hundred years after his death ^[1]. His most well-known work is Paris Street; Rainy Day, known for qualities such as its mise-en-scène presentation; the Art Institute of Chicago acquired that painting in 1964, and his work drew more attention in the 1970s ^[1].

Subject: the walled garden at Yerres

The painting shows the kitchen garden at the Caillebotte family property in Yerres, a rural setting southeast of Paris where the artist spent much of his youth ^[4]. The wall of the kitchen garden forms the central architectural element of the composition, with the cultivated plot stretching before it ^[4]. The subject belongs to a group of garden scenes Caillebotte produced at Yerres, reflecting his sustained engagement with the theme of domestic horticulture ^[4].

Materials and technique

The work is executed in oil paint on canvas ^[3]. Caillebotte's approach in this painting aligns with his broader practice of combining Impressionist subject matter with a more realistic manner of depiction than many of his contemporaries in the group ^[1].

Provenance and dating

The reference catalogue dates the work to 1876 and records its dimensions as 73 × 60 cm ^[3]. Caillebotte's garden scenes at Yerres date from the period of his most active involvement with the Impressionist exhibitions, during which he also served as a patron to the group's other members ^[1].

Related works

The walled garden at Yerres appears in multiple paintings by Caillebotte, including a work titled The Wall of the Kitchen Garden, Yerres, which is documented in high-resolution reproduction on Wikimedia Commons ^[4]. These garden scenes form a coherent body of work within Caillebotte's broader output, which also includes urban subjects such as Paris Street; Rainy Day ^[1].

Frequently asked questions

When was The Kitchen Garden, Yerres painted?

The reference catalogue dates the painting to 1876 ^[3].

What materials were used for this painting?

The work was executed in oil paint on canvas ^[3].

What are the dimensions of the painting?

The reference catalogue records the dimensions as 73 × 60 cm ^[3].

Who was Gustave Caillebotte?

Caillebotte was a French painter, born 19 August 1848 and died 21 February 1894, who was a member and patron of the Impressionists, although he painted in a more realistic manner than many others in the group ^[1][2].

What is Caillebotte's most well-known work?

His most well-known work is Paris Street; Rainy Day, acquired by the Art Institute of Chicago in 1964 ^[1].