Working in the forest of Fontainebleau, Diaz created a series of landscapes, giving great attention to the lighting effects in them. One of these works is his Storm Oncoming. The contrast of the golden and green treetops against the backdrop of an autumn sky before a storm communicates an atmosphere of dramatic suspense and tension. The best qualities of the artist’s creative approach are found in his color scheme, in which he plays around with half-tints, as well as in his free manner with the painting, lighting effects, and careful compositional planning.