Artwork
Stone Fences, Land of Nod
Stone Fences, Land of Nod is an ink print by Childe Hassam. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left on stone: Childe Hassam 1918 / Land of Nod -; lower right in graphite: [the artist's monogram]; lower left edge in green colored pencil by unknown hand: 828 [circled]; lower left edge in graphite by unknown hand: Stone Fences; upper right verso in graphite by unknown hand: #22
About this work
Overview
Created in 1918, this lithograph by Childe Hassam presents a tranquil rural vista. Rendered in black on wove paper, the image balances distant trees and modest dwellings within a muted, monochrome field, conveying a sense of quiet repose.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a landscape where sparse foliage and small houses recede into the distance, suggesting a peaceful, perhaps dreamlike environment. The minimal detail invites contemplation of solitude and the gentle passage of time.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work relies on loose, pencil‑like strokes that define forms with varying gray tones against a cream‑colored background. Jagged, linear marks hint at shrubbery, while the overall abstraction reflects Hassam’s inclination toward simplified, atmospheric renderings.
History & Provenance
Produced toward the end of World War I, the print emerged during a period when Hassam explored quieter, domestic subjects. Its early exhibition history and subsequent ownership records trace its movement through private collections, though specific details remain limited.
Context
The piece aligns with early twentieth‑century American printmaking trends that favored tonal restraint and atmospheric effects. Hassam’s choice of lithography allowed for rapid production of nuanced grayscale images, a method popular among his contemporaries seeking to capture mood over detail.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Frederick Childe Hassam (; October 17, 1859 – August 27, 1935) was an American Impressionist painter, noted for his urban and coastal scenes.
