La Plaine de Gennevilliers

La Plaine de Gennevilliers was bought directly from Monet by his friend, patron and fellow Impressionist Gustave Caillebotte and remained in the Caillebotte family collection until 1929. As early as 1876, Caillebotte had defined his position as an artist and an art patron. He became an active supporter of all the Impressionists but especially Renoir and Monet, advancing them money and purchasing their works. He actively participated in organizing the group's exhibitions in the late 1870s and contributed funds to organise the 3rd Impressionist Exhibition in April 1877, in which the present work was included. He paid for the rent of an appartment at 6 rue Le Peletier and although he did not need the money, he sent six of his own canvases. Most of Caillebotte's Impressionist purchases were made by 1880 and although 1882 was the last year he exhibited with the group he maintained close contacts, especially with Monet and Renoir.

Caillebotte's purchase of La Plaine de Gennevilliers would have been in part to support Monet but would also have greater significance for Caillebotte later as it depicts the plain of Gennevilliers, which is situated close to the village of Petit Gennevilliers, across the river from Argenteuil in Normandy, where in 1881 Gustave Caillebotte and his brother Martial bought a property. The plains around Petit Gennevilliers supported the agriculture of corn, barley and alfalfa. The beauty of the area was a rich source of subjects for Caillebotte who painted seven of his own views of the plain over the course of two years and like Monet carefully observed the variations of colour found in seasonal differences. Painted directly from nature Monet's painterly pleinairism influenced Caillebotte's own landscapes, to which the application of paint was more richly applied after 1881.