Artist:
Asher B. Durand
(American, 1796 - 1886)
Landscape, Wood Scene (Sketch in the Woods)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: ca. 1854
Dimensions:
24 × 18 in. (61 × 45.7 cm)
Accession number: 80.3.11
Label Copy:
This painting of the Catskill Mountains is one of several oil studies Asher B. Durand made in advance of the painting In the Woods (1855, Metropolitan Museum of Art). Durand is a major figure in the Hudson River School of American landscape painters and was renowned for his detailed portrayals of nature, which he imbued with as much realism as possible. In this carefully composed study, the artist expresses his view of nature as an embodiment of God, conveying the cycle of life through the coexistence of the lush living forest and decaying trees.
This painting of the Catskill Mountains is one of several oil studies Asher B. Durand made in advance of the painting In the Woods (1855, Metropolitan Museum of Art). Durand is a major figure in the Hudson River School of American landscape painters and was renowned for his detailed portrayals of nature, which he imbued with as much realism as possible. In this carefully composed study, the artist expresses his view of nature as an embodiment of God, conveying the cycle of life through the coexistence of the lush living forest and decaying trees.
Curatorial RemarksThis is one of several studies of a woodland interior Durand made in 1854 in the Catskill mountains. From these, he composed a larger, finished work, "In the Woods" (1855), now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The artist signed and dated the study in 1856 when he sold it.
Durand is a major figure in the Hudson River School of American landscape painters. In this carefully composed study, he expresses his view of nature as an embodiment of God, conveying the cycle of life through the contrast of the lush living forest and the decaying trees.
One of several oil studies of a woodland interior, this painting was made by Durand while in the Catskill Mountains of New York. From these studies, he composed a larger, more highly finished work In the Woods (1855), now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Durand began his career as an engraver before turning to oil painting in 1830. He accompanied his friend, artist Thomas Cole, on a sketching expedition in the Adirondacks in 1837 and soon after began to focus on landscape painting. He spent summers sketching in the Catskills, Adirondacks and the White Mountains, making hundreds of drawings and oil sketches that were later incorporated into finished paintings. His work helped to define the Hudson River School and proved highly influential to the next generation of American artists. He helped organize the New York Drawing Association in 1825, which would become the National Academy of Design; he would serve the organization as president from 1845 to 1861.
Durand was renowned for his detailed portrayals of trees, rocks and foliage. He was an advocate for drawing directly from nature with as much realism as possible. In this carefully composed study, the artist expresses his view of nature as an embodiment of God, conveying the cycle of life through the coexistence of the lush living forest and decaying trees.
Durand is a major figure in the Hudson River School of American landscape painters. In this carefully composed study, he expresses his view of nature as an embodiment of God, conveying the cycle of life through the contrast of the lush living forest and the decaying trees.
One of several oil studies of a woodland interior, this painting was made by Durand while in the Catskill Mountains of New York. From these studies, he composed a larger, more highly finished work In the Woods (1855), now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Durand began his career as an engraver before turning to oil painting in 1830. He accompanied his friend, artist Thomas Cole, on a sketching expedition in the Adirondacks in 1837 and soon after began to focus on landscape painting. He spent summers sketching in the Catskills, Adirondacks and the White Mountains, making hundreds of drawings and oil sketches that were later incorporated into finished paintings. His work helped to define the Hudson River School and proved highly influential to the next generation of American artists. He helped organize the New York Drawing Association in 1825, which would become the National Academy of Design; he would serve the organization as president from 1845 to 1861.
Durand was renowned for his detailed portrayals of trees, rocks and foliage. He was an advocate for drawing directly from nature with as much realism as possible. In this carefully composed study, the artist expresses his view of nature as an embodiment of God, conveying the cycle of life through the coexistence of the lush living forest and decaying trees.
On view