Light and Soul – Early Impressions of the French Landscape at Cooper Gallery

Katie Evans, Exhibitions Editor

Visit now

Light and Soul – Early Impressions of the French Landscape

Cooper Gallery, Barnsley
24 June-7 October 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Light and Soul
Cooper Gallery
Book now

Cinematic sunsets, rocky outcrops and mythical woodlands – the works on display at Cooper Gallery’s latest exhibition, Light and Soul – Early Impressions of the French Landscape, are a masterclass in nineteenth-century French landscape painting.

An unmissable collection of pre-impressionist innovators, Light and Soul features works from pioneers such as Rosa Bonheur, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and the mentor to the young Claude Monet – Eugène Boudin.        

Bringing together masterpieces from collections across the country, including The National Gallery, London, Sheffield Museums, and The Bowes Museum, County Durham, the exhibition takes you on a tour through all four corners of France. 

From panoramic vistas to intimate sketches of labourers, the works paint a picture of life in these environments, whether it’s lush valleys or the sprawling beaches of Normandy.

Light and Soul
Eugène Boudin, ‘Beach Scene, Trouville, 1873’, The National Gallery, London

Make sure to see Corot’s sketch of a tree. Sketches like these were paramount to capturing the fleeting effects of nature. Here, Corot effortlessly depicts the power and scale of the tree: rendered in swift, urgent strokes, it towers over the human figure, a reminder of the superiority of mother nature.

And nestled within Joséphine Bowes’s Study of Poplars you can just about spy tiny polkadots of cobalt blue in amongst the shadows. A detail like this might feel out of place in an exhibition of work from two centuries ago, but the more familiar you become with these painters, the more you can spot innovative gestures and flicks of paint that magically replicate the dancing effects of light and the bristling textures of the natural world.

Prior to the exhibition, several works went through a rigorous conservation process, including River Landscape by Eugène Modeste Edmond Lepoittevin. Get up close to appreciate how the newly restored vibrancy of the painter’s palette –  the blue of the sky, the reds of the clothing and the pinks cast by the sun –  bring the central, white-scarfed figure into sharp focus.

The landscapes on display do more than just replicate a scene, they somehow manage to replicate the feeling of being in the natural world. 

Do not miss this rare opportunity to see up close the work of the most celebrated painters of the nineteenth-century, and whose mastery of depicting light and the landscape bring these outdoor scenes vividly to life even now, two centuries later. 

Accessibility

  • Audio Described
  • Dementia-friendly
  • Relaxed

Where to go near Light and Soul – Early Impressions of the French Landscape at Cooper Gallery

The Beacon at Cliffe Castle Park
Bradford
Park
Cliffe Castle Park

Cliffe Castle Park hosts the Beacon, a stunning performance space that will be touring the district throughout Bradford UK City of Culture 2025.

Hern Food
Leeds
Restaurant
Hern

This produce-driven bistro in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, prides itself on cooking with the only finest ingredients and his headed up by Cordon Bleu-trained chef Rab Adams.

Indie Makers
Leeds
Shop
Indie Makers

Indie Makers, located in Leads’ corn exchange, trades in art and gifts from independent makers across the UK.

Plant Point
Leeds
Shop
Plant Point

Plant Point is designed to help you bring the jungle into your urban or suburban space. The home of beautiful plants in Leeds.

Leeds
Restaurant
Eat Your Greens

Eat Your Greens is a vibrant, organic restaurant bringing a hint of European flair to the city’s plant-based dining scene.

Sela opened in 2004 with an idea to provide quality imported beers from around the world, fun cocktails to compliment the beer selections and a stage for the region’s finest and most talented musicians to play on.Over ten years later, we’re still all about the beer, cocktails, live music and pizza!We carry over a selection of over thirty different beers spanning the globe from Pickering with The Great Yorkshire Brewery’s Yorkshire Blackout, to New York with a selection from Brooklyn Brewery, and Belgium with longtime Sela favourite, Vedett.Our cocktails change regularly too. Our best-sellers are joined by fun, new offerings and our pizza menu is regarded as one of the best the city of Leeds has to offer.As for the live music, Sela has had not only the great and the good from the region. Local funksters, The New Mastersounds are regular visitors and we stage the amazing Mojah Reggae Band for their weekly Wednesday residency.  Our other long running programming incl
Leeds
Restaurant
Sela Bar & Pizzeria

Sela Bar is a cosy Leeds basement spot with live music, great drinks, and a cool, laid-back, atmospheric vibe.

Leeds Beckett SU
Leeds
Restaurant
Leeds Beckett Student Union

Leeds Beckett Student Union hosts big-name artists and supports students through events, live music, and a vibrant campus venue.

Located on Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Vue Leeds Kirkstall is a nine screen cinema with almost 2000 seats. There's ample parking and the cinema is surrounded by various restaurants and entertainment facilities, making for a great evening out!

Watch the latest film releases and enjoy the industry-leading Sony 4K Digital screens, boasting spectacular picture quality, along with enhanced audio quality courtesy of Dolby 'Profound Sound'. Stepped SuperVue seating means you will never miss a second of the action while VIP seating guarantees you an extra touch of luxury whenever you want to upgrade.

Three of the nine screens showcase the newest 3D releases while Vue Classical brings the latest stage sensations to the big screen, and parents can save as they go with Family Tickets and Kids AM screenings offering great value for money.
Leeds
Cinema
Vue Cinema – Leeds Kirkstall Road

Located on Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Vue Leeds Kirkstall is a nine screen cinema with almost 2000 seats. There’s ample parking and the cinema is surrounded by various restaurants and

What's on: Exhibitions

Culture Guides

Star Nhà Ease
Cinema in the North

July's cinema highlights include spotlights on international cinema, a new cult classic, plus a visit from one of our favourite directors.

Blondshell by Hannah Bon.
Music in the North

From Lyra Pramuk’s sacred synths to the sugar rush of YAANG, our latest music picks bring ritual, rebellion and ridiculous levels of fun.

Exhibitions in the North

Monumental sculptures, charcoal confessions and a show of two paintings only - all this and more in this month's exhibition picks.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre in the North

Summer signals theatre festivals, world premieres and open-air spectacle - from MIF25 to comedy, outdoor circus and beyond, here’s what we’re looking forward to.