The Beginning of Autumn (Monument Mountain near Stockbridge)(from McGuire Scrapbook)

Moser employed gouache, an opaque watercolor, allowing him to layer dense strokes of gold and green while preserving the underlying blue of the paper. This method creates a mist‑like effect, as the paper’s hue subtly shines through the pigment, producing a luminous quality reminiscent of a crisp morning.

The piece originates from the McGuire Scrapbook, a collection that documented regional scenes in the early twentieth century. It now belongs to the American Wing, where it is displayed alongside other works that document New England’s landscape during the period.

At the turn of the century, American artists increasingly turned to watercolor and gouache for rapid, on‑site studies of the countryside. Moser’s treatment reflects this trend, emphasizing immediacy and atmospheric effects over detailed realism, aligning his work with broader movements toward impressionistic observation in American landscape painting.