Gustave Caillebotte (1848 – 1894) was a French impressionist and avid gardener. In this work we see his garden, greenhouse and house in a remarkable and detailed composition. This scene is filled with the elements of art, the language of the artist. Here, line, shape, color, space, texture, perspective sing to us of a lovely late summer day. There is so much to notice from the prominent flowers in the foreground to the sky in the background. We can notice the light dappled path and woman, the repeated shades and tints of tertiary colors blue-green and red-orange, the house that seems to anchor all of the beauty that surrounds it in soft straight lines and a window face.

I hope you are able to spend time with this piece. Maybe try to image Caillebotte noticing this scene in his garden and spending hours painting in the open air to capture it for us. Do you know a place like this? If picking up an art tool and drawing or painting that scene seems too much, maybe including it in your prayers of gratitude to the God of all is a perfect response. Or maybe doing both in thanksgiving and praise!

In gratitude, faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Montview Church