29

ERNEST LAWSON

American, 1873-1939

"Winter Scene Harlem River N.Y."

oil on canvas
signed lower left "E. Lawson"
20 1/4 x 24 1/2 in. (51.4 x 62.2 cm.), Frame: 28 x 32 x 3 in. (71.1 x 81.3 x 7.6 cm.)

  • Provenance: Babcock Galleries, New York, New York; Kraushaar Galleries, New York, New York, 1995; Private Collection, Maryland
  • Notes: Ernest Lawson was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1888, at age 15, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he studied at the Kansas City Art Institute. In 1891, he went to New York City and enrolled in the Art Students League, where he studied under John Twachtman, who taught him impressionistic techniques and remained a strong influence. In 1893, Lawson traveled to France and studied at the Académie Julian with Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant. While there, he shared a studio with the American writer Somerset Maugham. He also made sketching trips to the countryside.
    Returning to the United States in 1896, Lawson lived in New York. Lawson's style was heavily influenced by Impressionism, and he is known for his depictions of the urban landscape, particularly scenes of New York City and the Bronx River. He often painted in the winter, f inding beauty in the starkness of the season. He participated in the landmark exhibition of "The Eight" at the Macbeth Galleries in 1908.
    The present painting is a winter scene along the Harlem River. In the painting, Lawson relies on heavy impasto to add depth and shadow to his depictions of water and snow. His views of New York City are focused on more rural areas such as the Harlem River and while there are buildings visible in the distance there are no figures in the composition. As if the artist is viewing the hustle and bustle of the city from a quiet place across the river.
    Lawson's work was well-regarded during his lifetime, and he won several awards. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in his work, and he is now recognized as one of the most important American Impressionists. Lawson died in Miami, Florida, in 1939.
  • Condition: in good to very good overall condition; unlined canvas; scattered craquelure mainly in the sky

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