Upper Saranac Lake
1861
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1861
graphite
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a quiet lake with a line of trees along its edge. Behind them, rolling hills fade into distant mountains. The paper has a warm, aged tone, and the lines are light and quick—like a quick note of what the artist saw. The artist signed it "Upper Saranac Lake" in the corner, dated 1861. The loose, sketchy style suggests they were working fast, maybe outdoors. Next, check out the movement: Impressionism, Realism to see how this fits into bigger art trends.
