Evening Scene of Fontainebleau

The red-tinged light of dusk illuminates a figure engaged in farm work, with the trees in the center casting elongated shadows. The light green hue of the grass and the person’s attire suggest that the painting was made in early spring. The technique of rendering tree branches with lines apparently carved by a painting knife was derived from his teacher Fontanesi, and a similar approach can also be seen in Asai Chu’s watercolors and other works. Asai studied in France from 1900 to 1902, during which time he frequently visited Fontainebleau and Grez-sur-Loing adjacent to the nearby forest. This work, likely painted during one of two visits in April and May 1901, makes adept use of a vivid post-Impressionist palette, reflecting the handling of color which he studied in Paris and incorporated into his style. (N.R.)