Artwork
The Coast of Labrador
The Coast of Labrador is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist William Bradford. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Accession no.
- 100489
- Credit line
- Ada Turnbull Hertle Fund
About this work
He first visited between 1854 and 1857, but it wasn't until 1861 that he started painting it regularly.
The Coast of Labrador is a painting of a rocky shoreline with icebergs in the distance. It shows a lot of detail and light. The artist spent a lot of time in Labrador, which inspired his work.
He first visited between 1854 and 1857, but it wasn't until 1861 that he started painting it regularly. He returned to Labrador many times over the next eight years. Check out the work of artist William Bradford.
Overview
The Coast of Labrador is an oil on canvas painting depicting a rocky shoreline with icebergs in the distance, characterized by its detailed rendering and luminous quality.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures the rugged landscape and varied light effects of the Labrador coast, reflecting the artist's fascination with the Arctic environment.
Technique & Style
The work showcases Bradford's meticulous attention to detail and his use of light, echoing the stylistic elements found in the Luminist paintings of John Frederick Kensett.
History & Provenance
Signed and dated 1866, the painting likely originated from sketches made during Bradford's 1865 journey to Labrador, a region he visited multiple times between 1854 and 1865.
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Artist & collection
Artist
William Bradford (April 30, 1823 – April 25, 1892) was an American romanticist painter, photographer and explorer, originally from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, near New Bedford.
