Artwork
Landscape with Figures
Landscape with Figures is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Kenneth Hayes Miller. It dates from 1914 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This work, executed in oil paint, is characterized by its depiction of figures, including a prominent nude, situated near a body of water.
Kenneth Hayes Miller's 1914 oil painting, "Landscape with Figures," presents a scene featuring human forms within a natural setting. This work, executed in oil paint, is characterized by its depiction of figures, including a prominent nude, situated near a body of water. The artwork is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a moment in early 20th-century American art.
Subject & Meaning
The painting's central focus is a group of three individuals positioned by water, with the tallest figure depicted in the nude, rendered with smooth skin. A smaller figure is partially concealed, crouched low within the scene. The natural environment surrounding them includes a soft, cloudy sky and a foreground textured with rocks and various plants, establishing a tranquil, pastoral atmosphere for the figures.
Technique & Style
Miller employed oil paint to create a sense of solidity and presence in the figures. Noticeable are the thick applications of paint, particularly in certain areas, which contribute to the substantial appearance of the forms. This impasto technique contrasts with the more subtly rendered elements like the gentle, overcast sky, demonstrating a varied approach to surface texture and visual weight within the composition.
Artist & collection
