Artwork
Nocturne
Nocturne is a watercolor work on paper by the American Impressionist artist John La Farge. It dates from 1885 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The composition presents a solitary white flower with dark foliage set against a muted, smoky backdrop, evoking a quiet, moonlit atmosphere.
Created circa 1885, *Nocturne* is a small work on off‑white wove paper that combines watercolor, gouache and charcoal. American artist John La Farge, noted for his contributions to illustration, mural painting, interior design and stained‑glass, employed the piece as a study of nocturnal light. The composition presents a solitary white flower with dark foliage set against a muted, smoky backdrop, evoking a quiet, moonlit atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work functions as a still‑life, focusing on a single blossom and its leaves rendered in subdued tones. By placing the flower in a dim environment, La Farge explores how color and form behave under low illumination, suggesting a contemplative observation of nature’s delicate presence when the day’s brightness recedes.
Technique & Style
La Farge built the image through successive, translucent washes of watercolor—a method known as glazing—allowing layers of light and shadow to accumulate gradually. Gouache adds opacity to the flower’s petals, while charcoal defines the darker leaves and background. The overall effect aligns with American Impressionist concerns for atmospheric mood and the fleeting qualities of light.
History & Provenance
*Nocturne* belongs to the American Wing collection, where it is displayed among works that illustrate La Farge’s broader practice, which also encompassed innovative stained‑glass designs. The piece reflects his experimental approach to media during the late nineteenth century, a period when he was actively engaged in both fine‑art painting and decorative arts.
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.
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