Artwork
Untitled (Wooded Landscape)
Untitled (Wooded Landscape) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Samuel Colman. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Samuel Colman’s untitled wood‑cut landscape, executed around 1880, is a black‑and‑white print that combines etching with drypoint. The image presents a stark, leaf‑less forest under a heavy, overcast sky, its ground cracked and barren. A modest structure or bridge occupies the centre, illuminated only by a faint, diffused light that hints at a distant source.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a desolate woodland scene, its twisted trunks and skeletal branches conveying a sense of isolation. The absence of foliage and the cracked earth suggest a landscape stripped of vitality, perhaps reflecting themes of decay or the quiet endurance of nature under adverse conditions.
Technique & Style
Colman employed both acid‑etched lines and drypoint’s burr‑rich strokes, allowing for a range of tonal values from delicate grays to deep blacks. The sharp, intersecting lines and the pronounced contrast are characteristic of late‑nineteenth‑century American printmaking, where artists explored the expressive potential of line and shadow.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1880, the print belongs to the period when Colman was active in the American art scene, particularly known for his landscape work. While the piece remains untitled, it has been catalogued among his prints that document the evolving aesthetic of American etching in the post‑Civil War era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Colman (March 4, 1832 – March 26, 1920) was an American painter, interior designer, and writer, probably best remembered for his paintings of the Hudson River.
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