Moonlight, study

In June 1878, Fanny Churberg travelled to Paris to see the World Fair. Moonlight is dated 19 June, 1878, which means it was painted in Paris, although the buildings and trees by the water's edge in the landscape clearly identify it as Finnish. The focal point of the painting is the night sky. No one had ever before painted such a scene of wild, tumultuous drama of clouds, moonlight, and dots of Prussian blue scattered everywhere, at least not in Finland. Such a passionate, spontaneous artistic outburst almost feels as though it was poured out in a single breath.