The flood at saint cloud
| Support Type: | Canvas |
| Paint Type: | Oil Paint |
| Current Location: | Musée du Louvre, Paris, France — Department of Paintings |
| Location History: | The painting was exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1855. It was purchased by the French state in 1857 for the Musée du Luxembourg. The work arrived at the museum in 1874 and was subsequently transferred to the Musée du Louvre, where it became part of the Department of Paintings. It is now held by the French state and preserved at the Louvre under inventory number RF 96. |
The Flood at Saint-Cloud is a powerful meditation on the overwhelming force of nature and the vulnerability of human beings in the face of it, that can be interpreted in that way. The concept of the flood is not presented as an inevitable catastrophe, but is made the presentation of a single Romantic image, in which nature dominates man in most aspects of his life, presenting the familiar landscape of Saint-Cloud in a new light. The most unusual aspect of the painting is the unbalanced relationship between humans and the environment. In each of these views, the people, boats, animals and carts seem very small in comparison to the massive trees, vast floodwaters and black sky. The choice of scale and the contrast between the two indicate that man, in his efforts to dominate and occupy the environment, is still small when compared with the forces of nature. The normal boundaries between roads, paths and fields have been washed away, and the familiar environment is now an erratic stretch of water. The painting can be interpreted as a metaphor for the fading of human order in this way. The water itself is the symbol of disruption. It has encroached upon areas that are usually under human control and order, hinting at the rapid pace at which nature can turn everyday life upside down. Although the boats and the horseman are evidence of mankind's adaptation and survival, these figures do not seem to triumph over the flood. On the contrary, they appear to be negotiating with someone far stronger than him. The water itself, as well as the barrel and other objects floating or surrounding the water, further convey the chaos created by the catastrophe. The composition also conveys this notion. The trees are large and tall, with one main trunk extending upwards and branching out into smaller branches. The water in the painting appears horizontal, flowing over the rocks and plant life below.The water in the painting is flowing horizontally over the rocks and vegetation below, with the trees visible in the foreground. Their contrast gives the impression of the stability and instability. The trees seem to be planted and massive, while the ground is wet, indicating a disruption of natural functioning. The sky is dark and cloudy, adding to the overall feeling of mystery and danger.