Artwork
Bar Harbor, Twilight
Bar Harbor, Twilight is a gouache work on paper by the American Impressionist artist John La Farge. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1896, *Bar Harbor, Twilight* is a watercolor and gouache work on off‑white wove paper by American artist John La Farge. The composition captures a tranquil coastal scene at the moment when daylight fades, presenting a quiet view of Bar Harbor, Maine, rendered in a subdued palette that emphasizes the calm of evening.
Subject & Meaning
The picture portrays the harbor’s shoreline at dusk, focusing on the gentle interplay of sky, water, and land. By choosing a twilight setting, La Farge highlights the fleeting quality of light, inviting contemplation of nature’s subtle transitions and the everyday serenity of a seaside community.
Technique & Style
La Farge employed a combination of watercolor and opaque gouache, allowing both transparent washes and richer, more saturated areas. Simple, fluid brushstrokes convey atmospheric depth, while the delicate handling of color reflects the influence of American Impressionism, a movement that emphasized light effects and spontaneous observation.
History & Provenance
The work belongs to the American Wing collection, where it is displayed among other late‑19th‑century pieces. La Farge, noted for his contributions to illustration, mural painting, and stained‑glass design, produced this piece during a prolific period that also saw him active in interior design and authorship.
Context
At the time of its creation, Bar Harbor was a popular summer destination for affluent visitors, and its scenic vistas attracted many artists. La Farge’s choice of this locale aligns with a broader trend among American painters to document regional landscapes, integrating European Impressionist techniques with distinctly American subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
John La Farge (March 31, 1835 – November 14, 1910) was an American artist whose career spanned illustration, murals, interior design, painting, and popular books on his Asian travels and other art-related topics.
The Muse of Painting
Portrait of the Painter
The Last Valley - Paradise Rocks
The Entrance to the Tautira River, Tahiti. Fisherman Spearing a Fish
Flowers on a Window Ledge
Autumn Study, View over Hanging Rock, Newport, R.I.
The Island of Moorea Looking across the Strait from Tahiti, January 1891
Double Study of Dawn, Moorea Seen across the Water, Tahiti