Who painted Autumn in the Catskills?

Autumn in the Catskills was painted by Jervis McEntee in 1873.

Where can I see Autumn in the Catskills?

Autumn in the Catskills is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Autumn in the Catskills?

Autumn in the Catskills is associated with American Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Autumn in the Catskills?

Museum-quality prints of Autumn in the Catskills are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Autumn in the Catskills

Jervis McEntee , 1873

Autumn in the Catskills is an unspecified painting by the American Impressionist artist Jervis McEntee. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1915.692
Credit line: Hinman B. Hurlbut Collection

About this work

Overview

Jervis McEntee’s 1873 canvas Autumn in the Catskills portrays a quiet woodland scene in late fall. A narrow stream winds through a stand of mostly leaf‑stripped trees, their branches reaching upward toward a soft sky. The forest floor is littered with fallen leaves and twigs, while the water catches the warm, golden glow of an evening sun, suggesting a moment of calm in the Catskill region.

Subject & Meaning

The painting captures the seasonal transition of the Catskills, emphasizing the quiet dignity of a landscape entering winter. By focusing on the muted palette of bare trunks and amber light, McEntee conveys a sense of contemplation and the passage of time, aligning with the Hudson River School’s interest in the spiritual qualities of the American wilderness.

Technique & Style

McEntee employs a restrained palette of earth tones, allowing the golden reflections on the water to become the visual focal point.

McEntee employs a restrained palette of earth tones, allowing the golden reflections on the water to become the visual focal point. Delicate brushwork renders the texture of bark and the scattering of leaves, while atmospheric perspective, lighter, cooler tones in the distant thicket, creates depth. The composition follows 19th‑century American landscape conventions, balancing detailed foreground with a receding background.

History & Provenance

Created during the post‑Gilded Age period, the work reflects McEntee’s connections with leading Hudson River School artists. Although the painting has not been widely exhibited, references to it appear in the artist’s unpublished journals, which discuss the social and artistic climate of New York in the early 1870s. Its ownership record remains limited to private collections since its completion.