Who painted The Russet Season?

The Russet Season was painted by John Francis Murphy in 1915.

Where can I see The Russet Season?

The Russet Season is held by Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

What movement is The Russet Season?

The Russet Season is associated with American Impressionism.

Artwork

The Russet Season

John Francis Murphy , 1915

The Russet Season is an unspecified painting by the American Impressionist artist John Francis Murphy. It dates from 1915 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1915, *The Russet Season* presents a quiet, open landscape dominated by earthy browns and muted greens. A solitary tree rises in the foreground, set against a broad field that stretches toward a hazy horizon. The composition invites the viewer to linger on the subtle shift of color that signals the transition into autumn.

Subject & Meaning

The work concentrates on a single, isolated tree, a motif that conveys a sense of contemplation amid the changing season. The muted palette and soft atmospheric effects suggest the passage of time and the quiet dignity of the natural world as it moves toward dormancy.

Technique & Style

Murphy applied thin, layered washes of pigment, a method that evolved from his earlier Tonalist influences toward an Impressionist sensibility. Visible brushwork creates texture on the foliage and ground, while the delicate gradations of tone generate depth and a luminous, mist‑filled atmosphere.

History & Provenance

American landscape painter John Francis Murphy produced the canvas during his mature period, when his style had become more introspective and brooding. The painting entered the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s collection, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s representation of early 20th‑century American Impressionism.