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Student Artwork Guide

Le champ de blé d

Name Class Date

Paul Sérusier, Le champ de blé d, Intercéréales. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Paul Sérusier topimpressionists.com/en/artists/paul-serusier/
Artist’s dates
1864 – 1927
Held at
Intercéréales topimpressionists.com/en/museums/intercereales-paris/

In context

Le champ de blé d — Paul Sérusier

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1860
  2. 1870
  3. 1880
  4. 1890
  5. 1900
  6. 1910
  7. 1920

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 63 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Paul Sérusier (1864–1927) every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1890 Main working years: 1890–1906 Late works: from 1906

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/paul-serusier-le-champ-de-ble-d-D72SYF-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Rosy Brown #bc9d6d

    Catalogued palette

    • #BC9D6D
    • #7D644C
    • #565141
    • #947859

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Rosy Brown
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Paul Sérusier over the last twelve months — 13 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 70.2%
    2. 2 United States of America 10.6%
    3. 3 France 4.8%
    4. 4 Singapore 3.8%
    5. 5 Hong Kong 2.9%
    6. 6 Austria 1.0%
    7. 7 Belgium 1.0%
    8. 8 Canada 1.0%
    9. 9 Germany 1.0%
    10. 10 Spain 1.0%
    11. · 3 other countries 2.7%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Paul Sérusier

    1. 1 Still Life with Corn and Tomatoes, 1921 4.4%
    2. 2 Avenue de Neuilly 3.5%
    3. 3 Susanna and the Elders 3.5%
    4. 4 End of the day, 1893 2.7%
    5. 5 Fisherman on the Laita, 1890 2.7%
    6. 6 The Talisman, 1888 2.7%
    7. 7 La colline aux platanes, 1907 2.7%
    8. 8 Apple Harvest, 1891 2.7%
    9. 9 La Guirlande de roses, 1898 2.7%
    10. 10 Celtic Tale, 1894 1.8%
    11. 11 Colour Wheel 1.8%
    12. 12 Portrait of Paul Ranson, 1890 1.8%
    13. 13 Breton woman going to the washing place, 1890 1.8%
    14. 14 The Breton Weaver, 1888 1.8%
    15. 15 The Fairy and the Knight, 1912 1.8%
    16. 16 A Widow, 1919 1.8%
    17. 17 Still Life with Fruit and a Pitcher, 1913 1.8%
    18. 18 Portrait of Paul Ranson Dressed as a Prophet, 1890 1.8%
    19. 19 The Wall, 1890 1.8%
    20. 47 Le champ de blé d this painting 0.9%

    Together these works take 46.5% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 177 works by this artist, of which 76 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 47 of them, with 0.9% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Paul Sérusier

    Born in Paris, France

    early life and education

    paul sérusier, a french painter, was born on november 9, 1864, in paris. he studied at the académie julian, where he became a monitor in the mid-1880s. this marked the beginning of his artistic journey, which would eventually lead him to pioneer abstract art and inspire the avant-garde nabis movement, synthetism, and cloisonnism.

    artistic career

    in the summer of 1888, sérusier traveled to pont-aven, where he joined a small group of artists centered around paul gauguin. under gauguin's close supervision, sérusier painted "the talisman," an extreme exercise in cloisonnism that approximated pure abstraction. this piece showcased his innovative style and willingness to experiment with new techniques. as a post-impressionist painter, sérusier was part of the group les nabis, alongside pierre bonnard, édouard vuillard, and maurice denis. although not as widely recognized as some of his peers, sérusier's contributions to the development of abstract art are undeniable.

    notable works and legacy

    some of sérusier's notable works include:

    l'averse (1893), musée d'orsay, paris

    portrait of paul ranson (1890), musée d'orsay, paris

    melancholy (1890)

    the snake eaters (1894), muzeum narodowe, warsaw

    sérusier's later years saw him teaching at the académie ranson and publishing his book "abc de la peinture" in 1921. he passed away on october 7, 1927, in morlaix.

    artistic movement and influence

    sérusier's work was influenced by cloisonnism, a style characterized by bold and flat forms separated by dark contours. this movement, which emerged in the late 19th century, played a significant role in shaping the development of modern art.

    explore more on cloisonnism: the cloisonnism art movement

    discover sérusier's work: paul serusier | AllPaintingsStore.com

    learn about the nabis movement: the nabis art movement

    key takeaways: * paul sérusier was a french painter who pioneered abstract art and inspired the nabis movement. he studied at the académie julian and later taught at the académie ranson. sérusier's work was influenced by cloisonnism, a style characterized by bold and flat forms.

    Museum

    Intercéréales

    On show in Paris, France

    A Symphony of Soil and Soul

    Beyond the gilded frames of the Louvre and the impressionistic whispers of the Musée d'Orsay lies a different kind of masterpiece, one etched not in oil but in the very grain of the earth. In the heart of Paris,

    Intercéréales

    offers a profound sensory journey that celebrates the fundamental artistry of nature. It is a sanctuary dedicated to the golden hues of wheat, the sturdy rhythm of barley, and the delicate essence of rice—the foundational elements of French culture and culinary heritage. For the connoisseur of beauty, this institution presents a unique perspective where the concept of

    terroir

    is elevated to a high art form, inviting visitors to find aesthetic splendor in the textures and histories of the world's most vital crops.

    The museum’s narrative unfolds as a sweeping epic of human ingenuity and ancestral connection. Stepping into its halls, one encounters the echoes of antiquity through meticulously preserved artifacts that speak of a time when survival was an intimate dance with the seasons. Recreated scythes and elegant winnowing fans serve as sculptural relics of a pre-mechanized era, their weathered surfaces telling tales of laborious precision and a deep, tactile relationship with the land. This historical depth is beautifully juxtapzed with an astonishing chronological collection of grain samples. From ancient, resilient wheat varieties that have survived millennia to the sleek, engineered hybrids of the modern age, the collection serves as a living timeline of biological evolution and human adaptation.

    Architectural Harmony and Modern Vision

    The physical space of Intercéréales is itself a triumph of design, a testament to the visionary work of architect

    Jean Nouvel

    . The structure embodies a seamless fusion of heritage and modernity, utilizing a palette of natural timber and stone to create an atmosphere of organic elegance. The interior is bathed in a soft, diffused light that dances across the open layout, guiding the observer through a contemplative path of discovery. This architectural choice reflects the museum's core ethos: that innovation must always remain rooted in the strength of tradition. For the interior designer or lover of fine spaces, the building offers a masterclass in how materiality and light can evoke a sense of peace and continuity.

    Intercéréales distinguishes itself through its commitment to the future, frequently hosting exhibitions that bridge the gap between agronomy and gastronomy. These curated displays explore the delicate balance of biodiversity and the scientific advancements driving sustainable farming today. It is a place where the dialogue between the farmer’s toil and the scientist’s precision becomes a shared cultural experience. By showcasing cutting-edge machinery alongside ancient seeds, the museum creates a compelling tension between what was and what is yet to be. Ultimately, Intercéréales invites us to redefine our understanding of art, suggesting that the most enduring masterpieces are those cultivated in the fertile soil of our shared history.

    Where to read more

    • The artist Paul Sérusier topimpressionists.com/en/artists/paul-serusier/
    • The museum Intercéréales topimpressionists.com/en/museums/intercereales-paris/
    • Similar works More works to compare topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/paul-serusier-le-champ-de-ble-d-D72SYF-en/

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Le champ de blé d

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/paul-serusier-le-champ-de-ble-d-D72SYF-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Sérusier, Paul. Le champ de blé d. n.d., Intercéréales. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/paul-serusier-le-champ-de-ble-d-D72SYF-en/
    APA
    Sérusier, Paul (n.d.). Le champ de blé d [Painting]. Intercéréales. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/paul-serusier-le-champ-de-ble-d-D72SYF-en/
    Chicago
    Paul Sérusier. Le champ de blé d. n.d. Intercéréales. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/paul-serusier-le-champ-de-ble-d-D72SYF-en/
    Harvard
    Sérusier, Paul (n.d.) Le champ de blé d. Intercéréales. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/paul-serusier-le-champ-de-ble-d-D72SYF-en/

    Look closely

    Le champ de blé d — Paul Sérusier

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Portrait of Paul Ranson (1890), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
    5. If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    Is "Le champ de blé d" free of copyright?

    Regarding copyright, "Le champ de blé d" is in the public domain - its copyright has expired.

    How is the color composition of "Le champ de blé d" by Paul Sérusier built?

    The color analysis of "Le champ de blé d" by Paul Sérusier records a serene contrast and a strong color unity harmony.

    What explains the copyright situation of "Le champ de blé d" by Paul Sérusier?

    "Le champ de blé d" by Paul Sérusier is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. Copyright duration runs from the artist's death, which occurred in 1927.