Artwork
Geese in Flight
Geese in Flight is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Leila T. Bauman. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Leila T.
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About this work
History & Provenance
It was recorded as originating in Union County, New Jersey, before entering the collection of George Hasney of New Jersey.
The painting Geese in Flight by Leila T. Bauman is dated to 1850. It was recorded as originating in Union County, New Jersey, before entering the collection of George Hasney of New Jersey. In 1951, Hasney sold the work to Mrs. Frank Bien of Morristown, New Jersey, who then sold it the same year to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch.
The Garbisches gifted the painting to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1958. An affidavit of ownership signed by Hasney on 16 March 1951 is retained in the NGA's curatorial files.
Technique & Style
The painting employs oil on canvas, a medium suited to fine detail and atmospheric nuance. Brushwork is smooth and blended, particularly in the rendering of sky and water, where delicate glazes articulate light and reflection. The composition balances soft-edged feathering with sharper contours in the geese and foreground elements, suggesting careful layering and controlled wet-into-wet transitions.
Forms are naturalistically conceived yet generalized, with muted earth tones and low chroma harmonizing the scene. The handling indicates a controlled, deliberate approach rather than impasto or textural emphasis, consistent with mid-nineteenth-century American landscape practice. No evidence of significant abrasion or inpainting is noted in the provenance or curatorial record.
Overview
Leila T. Bauman's "Geese in Flight," painted in oil on canvas in 1850, captures a serene natural scene. The composition features a flock of five geese soaring above a dark mountain, with a tranquil landscape unfolding below. This work exemplifies Bauman's attention to detail in depicting both wildlife and the surrounding environment, inviting viewers to observe the subtle textures and elements within the painting.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a quiet, rural vista dominated by the titular birds. Five geese are shown in mid-flight, positioned above a prominent, dark mountain. Below this elevated terrain, a small house is nestled beside a calm lake, where a wooden boat rests motionless on the water.
A tree, slightly leaning, completes the foreground, contributing to the overall sense of stillness and natural harmony in the depicted landscape.
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