plein air paintings
During the middle of the 19th century, the type of art that was being created was incredibly traditional, as artists produced works that would fit the conventional salons and exhibitions that were being held. However, a small group of artists began to experience a great deal of boredom with the kind of artworks they were required to make and started to branch out in terms of their subject matter. Suddenly, the outdoors held great appeal for artists, who began painting what became known as en plein air paintings, whereby artists painted outside.