Painted in 1880, The Storm, by Pierre-Auguste Cot, is an oil painting currently on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Two subjects, a youthful woman and man, are the central focus of this work. The Storm is notable not only for its subject matter, but also for the striking way in which it is depicted; the technical mastery of Cot is evident in the well-rendered, linear style, and the dynamic and atmospheric nature of the painting inspires a greater sense of interest in the viewer. The subject matter of the work is a pair of figures, both poised on the left leg – or, rather, on the ball of the foot – with the right leg outstretched towards the rear, and the upper body tilted forward to such an extent that this forward tilt does not appear
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From the green and brown colours of the background, reminiscent of plants and soil, in addition to the rock and greenery, it is plausible that the environment through which the figures are running is outdoors – perhaps a garden or a wood. The clothing of the figures may be a stylistic choice, intended to display a certain virtuosity of painting through the depiction of fur and drapery, while also showcasing the nude figure; or, in combination with the lack of shoes, the primal nature of the fur and the free-flowing, almost transparent nature of the dress could be used to denote a sense of earthen freedom and innocence. The shadowy nature of the scene, the preoccupation of the woman with something occurring above her, and the garment held overhead indicate that a storm may be approaching, in which case the sky would be overcast, the woman may be watching for signs of bad weather, and the garment would serve as a shelter from the rain. The interaction between the figures indicates a romantic involvement. The woman, though concerned about the storm, leans in towards the man and casts her arm over his shoulders. The man, with his arm about her waist, appears to be drawing her in closer, and his gaze is occupied with her head – despite the storm, he is focused on the woman, and his face appears, due to the slight smile on his lips and his calm brow, to be happy. It is this
From the green and brown colours of the background, reminiscent of plants and soil, in addition to the rock and greenery, it is plausible that the environment through which the figures are running is outdoors – perhaps a garden or a wood. The clothing of the figures may be a stylistic choice, intended to display a certain virtuosity of painting through the depiction of fur and drapery, while also showcasing the nude figure; or, in combination with the lack of shoes, the primal nature of the fur and the free-flowing, almost transparent nature of the dress could be used to denote a sense of earthen freedom and innocence. The shadowy nature of the scene, the preoccupation of the woman with something occurring above her, and the garment held overhead indicate that a storm may be approaching, in which case the sky would be overcast, the woman may be watching for signs of bad weather, and the garment would serve as a shelter from the rain. The interaction between the figures indicates a romantic involvement. The woman, though concerned about the storm, leans in towards the man and casts her arm over his shoulders. The man, with his arm about her waist, appears to be drawing her in closer, and his gaze is occupied with her head – despite the storm, he is focused on the woman, and his face appears, due to the slight smile on his lips and his calm brow, to be happy. It is this