Artwork
When Duels Were Fought
When Duels Were Fought is a print by Ernest Haskell. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
When Duels Were Fought is a print executed by Ernest Haskell around 1910. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed among the museum’s early‑twentieth‑century prints.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a quiet natural scene dominated by a solitary tree whose expansive branches reach toward the sky while its roots anchor firmly in the soil. A soft shift of colour in the distance suggests the passage from daylight toward evening, lending the composition a contemplative atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Haskell employs a careful handling of light and shadow, using chiaroscuro to model the tree’s bark and foliage. The gradations of tone create a sense of three‑dimensional form, and the delicate rendering of leaves conveys a gentle movement in the breeze.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1910, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (specific donor or purchase details are not recorded in the available documentation). It has remained in the museum’s print and drawing department since its entry.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ernest Haskell was an American artist and illustrator, internationally famous in his lifetime and remembered for his etchings, as well as engravings, pen-and-ink drawings, lithographs and watercolors.
