Pastures, Branchville, Connecticut

c. 1888–91

John Henry Twachtman

(American, 1853–1902)

Culture

America

Medium

pastel on composition board

Support

Gray-green sandpaper (discolored to light brown) (paper: P. L. Breveté)

Measurements

Sheet: 37.9 x 45.7 cm (14 15/16 x 18 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of E. R. Brumley 1946.72

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Location

Not on view

Description

In the mid-1880s a group of American artists joined together to promote the expressive qualities of pastel. As a member of this group, known as the Society of Painters in Pastel, Twachtman contributed actively to their last three exhibitions in 1888, 1889, and 1890. As in this example, Twachtman incorporated the tone of his papers into his imagery, so that the paper becomes a part of the design itself. The most frequent subjects of his pastels were views of the fields and undulating countryside of Greenwich, Connecticut, with gentle rhythms punctuated by occasional trees and patches of wildflowers.