Artist in the Forest of Fontainebleau on a Foggy Day

Both painters and photographers ventured off the established paths to document new vistas within the forest. They were interested in capturing not only trees and rocks but also changing weather, such as the dense fog seen here. In sunny weather, photographers were obliged to choose between exposing for the bright sky or for details in the landscape. The more moderate light conditions of a fogbound forest allowed Bodmer to capture a sense of the dense, humid air that envelops the artist at work.