Who painted House by a Pond?

House by a Pond was painted by Bass Otis in 1819.

Where can I see House by a Pond?

House by a Pond is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is House by a Pond?

House by a Pond is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of House by a Pond?

Museum-quality prints of House by a Pond are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

House by a Pond

Bass Otis , 1819

House by a Pond is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Bass Otis. It dates from 1819 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower center on stone: Bass Otis Lithographie...; lower left edge in graphite by unknown hand: Q nett; lower center edge in graphite by unknown hand: First Issue of the First American Lithograph; lower right edge in graphite by unknown hand: 2 cl dup / 35-; upper right verso in graphite by unknown hand: House by Pond

About this work

Overview

Created in 1819, House by a Pond is a black lithograph printed on wove paper. It depicts a modest dwelling set beside a pond, framed by trees and a simple landscape rendered with clear, economical lines.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a tranquil domestic scene, emphasizing the relationship between architecture and nature. The sparse composition invites contemplation of early American rural life, though no explicit narrative is provided beyond the visual setting.

Technique & Style

Otis employed the lithographic process, a relatively new medium in the United States at the time, using a stone surface to draw the image in black ink before transferring it to paper. The work’s linear clarity and limited tonal range reflect the experimental character of early American lithography.

History & Provenance

Bass Otis, an artist and inventor active in the early nineteenth century, produced this print during a brief period of lithographic activity. While best known for numerous portrait paintings of contemporary figures, little documentation survives regarding the print’s original ownership or exhibition history.

Context

The print belongs to the formative years of American lithography, a period when artists were adapting a European technology for domestic use. Otis’s experiment with the medium aligns with broader efforts to expand visual communication beyond traditional painting and engraving.