Artwork
Landscape, Sunset
Landscape, Sunset is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist George Inness. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
George Inness completed the oil painting *Landscape, Sunset* in 1894, the final year of his life. The work belongs to the American Impressionist vein and is part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s holdings.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas portrays a dusk scene where an orange‑yellow sky is pierced by dark clouds, while trees and grass occupy the foreground. The muted greens and browns convey a tranquil, atmospheric moment, reflecting Inness’s later interest in spiritualized landscape.
Technique & Style
Visible brushwork and layered glazing give the surface a textured quality, allowing light to penetrate the pigments. Inness’s handling of color and tonal modulation creates depth, echoing the atmospheric concerns of the Barbizon influence while retaining an Impressionist sensibility.
History & Provenance
Created shortly before Inness’s death, the painting entered the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it remains on display. Its acquisition history beyond the museum’s purchase records is not documented in the available sources.
Context
Inness’s career began under the Hudson River School, but by the 1890s he had absorbed ideas from the French Barbizon school and the mystical theology of Emanuel Swedenborg. *Landscape, Sunset* exemplifies this mature synthesis, emphasizing mood over literal topography.
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Artist & collection
Artist
George Inness (May 1, 1825 – August 3, 1894) was an American landscape painter. Now recognized as one of the most influential American artists of the nineteenth century, Inness was influenced by the Hudson River School…
