Who painted At the Waterfall?

At the Waterfall was painted by David Claypoole Johnston in ca. 1850.

Where can I see At the Waterfall?

At the Waterfall is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is At the Waterfall?

At the Waterfall is associated with American Folk Art.

Artwork

At the Waterfall

David Claypoole Johnston , 1850

At the Waterfall is a watercolor work on paper by the American Folk Art artist David Claypoole Johnston. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

Executed in 1850, this landscape work utilizes watercolor enhanced with gum arabic and gouache. The artist applied these pigments to a support of off-white wove paper. The composition formally centers on the depiction of a tree, characteristic of the genre. The sheet measures 21.9 cm in height and 32.4 cm in width.

History & Provenance

The work is classified under The American Wing, consistent with its status as an American landscape watercolor by David Claypoole Johnston, dated 1850.

David Claypoole Johnston created the watercolor At the Waterfall in 1850. The work was executed using watercolor, gum arabic, and gouache on off-white wove paper. It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under the American Wing. The piece depicts a landscape featuring a tree.

At the Waterfall is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is classified under The American Wing, consistent with its status as an American landscape watercolor by David Claypoole Johnston, dated 1850.

No accession number, acquisition details, or exhibition history are documented in the available sources.

Overview

David Claypoole Johnston’s watercolor titled At the Waterfall dates from around 1850. Executed on off‑white wove paper, the work combines watercolor, gum arabic and gouache. It presents a narrow cascade framed by moss‑covered rocks and surrounding trees, offering a quiet, intimate view of a natural setting rather than the expansive vistas favored by many of his contemporaries.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a slender waterfall that descends in translucent ribbons, catching the light as if glass‑like. Flanking the water are rugged stones and a stand of tall trees, their foliage rendered with delicate brushwork that suggests a gentle rustle. The absence of human figures directs attention to the sensory experience of sight and sound in a secluded landscape.

Context

At a time when grand mountain panoramas and historical subjects dominated the art market, Johnston’s focus on a modest, unpopulated waterfall offers a counter‑narrative. The painting aligns with a broader mid‑century interest in documenting the nation’s varied natural environments, emphasizing observation over dramatization.

Artist & collection

Artist

David Claypoole Johnston

watercolor by David Claypoole Johnston

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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