Artwork
Landscape No. 19
Landscape No. 19 is an unspecified painting by the American Impressionist artist Marsden Hartley. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Landscape No.
About this work
Overview
Landscape No. 19, painted in 1909 by American modernist Marsden Hartley, is part of the collection at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The work presents a tranquil outdoor scene rendered in a restrained palette of blues, purples, and earth tones, inviting quiet contemplation of the natural world.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a broad, ambiguous form that suggests either a distant mountain ridge or a still body of water, set against a clear blue sky dotted with soft white clouds. The subdued coloration and spacious layout convey a sense of calm and openness, encouraging the viewer to imagine a peaceful, uninhabited landscape.
Technique & Style
Hartley’s brushwork remains evident across the canvas, creating a lightly textured surface that adds depth to the muted hues. The painting balances abstraction with recognizable landscape elements, reflecting an early modernist approach that simplifies forms while preserving atmospheric qualities.
History & Provenance
Completed in the early phase of Hartley’s career, Landscape No. 19 entered the public domain through acquisition by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The museum’s holdings of Hartley’s oeuvre provide context for his development from academic training toward a more experimental visual language.
Context
Created shortly before Hartley’s move to Europe, the painting reflects the American landscape tradition while hinting at the emerging modernist tendencies that would later define his work. Its restrained palette and simplified forms anticipate the artist’s later interest in symbolic abstraction and regional identity.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marsden Hartley was an American Modernist painter, poet, and essayist. Hartley developed his painting abilities by observing Cubist artists in Paris and Berlin.
Museum
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
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