Thomas Worthington Whittredge

American (1820–1910)

Landscape with Woman Carrying Washing Towards the River

c. 1880s

Oil on canvas

Museum purchase with funds provided by the Estate of Marjorie C. Curme

1985.28

This painting represents Whittredge’s revolutionary departure from the Hudson River School in favor of a more European style. The landscape has a complex composition: the scene is arranged in receding horizontal layers parallel to the picture plane. Within this scheme, the space is firmly anchored by the vertical accents of the trees. The flickering brushwork and atmospheric color produce a scene of light that faithfully captures the feel of a summer day. The house depicted here was built in 1878. Still extant, it is located near Four Corners, Tiverton, Rhode Island, where the artist spent summers at the home of an eccentric relative.

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