Léon Bonvin (1834–1866), French, A melancholic yet meticulous observer of rural life, this French watercolorist captured the quiet beauty of the countryside with an almost poetic sensitivity. His works—often small in scale but rich in detail—depict humble scenes: overgrown paths, weathered barns, and solitary figures under vast skies. Unlike his more famous half-brother François Bonvin, a realist painter, he favored a softer, more introspective approach, blending precise draftsmanship with delicate washes of color. Financial struggles and personal despair shadowed his career; he sold few works and relied on teaching and odd jobs. Tragically, he took his own life at 32, leaving behind a modest but hauntingly tender oeuvre. Today, his pieces are prized for their quiet emotional depth, offering a window into 19th-century rural France through the eyes of an artist who found fleeting solace in its landscapes.