Artwork
Samoa
Samoa is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Louis Eilshemius. It dates from 1907 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Two figures wade through a shallow river beneath a wooden bridge, palm trees lining the banks and the water catching their silhouettes. The gray sky and slightly blurred forms come from loose, sketchy brushwork, the people reduced to simple shapes. Louis Eilshemius painted it in oil in 1907.
Subject & Meaning
The work, classified as a landscape painting, was created on canvas and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Louis Eilshemius's 1907 oil painting Samoa portrays a landscape that includes a tree, a bridge, and a nude figure, integrating the human form with natural elements. The work, classified as a landscape painting, was created on canvas and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. By positioning a nude within a pastoral setting marked by a tree and a bridge, the composition merges bodily presence with the surrounding environment, emphasizing a direct relationship between humanity and the natural world. This synthesis of figural and landscape motifs defines the subject and visual meaning of the piece.
Technique & Style
Created in 1907, Samoa is an oil painting executed on canvas by Louis Eilshemius. The work measures approximately 60.6 by 69.9 cm and is classified as a landscape painting. Visually, the composition incorporates natural and figural elements, specifically depicting trees, a bridge, and a nude figure within the scenery. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Louis Eilshemius's 1907 oil painting titled Samoa is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, classified as a landscape, measures 60.6 by 69.9 centimetres and is executed in oil on canvas. While the museum holds the piece, the provided sources do not specify a unique accession number for this entry, nor do they record the painting's exhibition history.
The artwork depicts a scene containing a tree, a bridge, and a nude figure set within a landscape.
Overview
Louis Eilshemius, an American painter recognized for his landscapes and figural works, created Samoa in 1907. This oil painting exemplifies the American Impressionist movement through its depiction of a natural setting. The composition features a serene landscape with a bridge, lush trees, and a nude figure, capturing a moment of tranquility. The work is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Louis Michel Eilshemius (February 4, 1864 – December 29, 1941) was an American painter, primarily of landscapes and nudes. He also wrote musical compositions, verse, novels, short stories, and published periodicals.
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