Hemlock Forest

c. 1895

William H. Rau

Associated Names
William H. Rau

Artist, American, 1855 - 1920

The image shows a symmetrical view of a straight railway track continuing into the distance towards a central vanishing point. The horizon is low in the frame with a light sky contrasting with the dark forest on either side of the tracks. Tall trees line the track, casting shadows and creating a natural corridor. The color palette is primarily sepia tones. The forest landscape remains dense beyond the track, with logs and foliage adding texture to the scene.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    albumen silver print

  • Credit Line

    Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund

  • Dimensions

    image: 43.7 × 52.1 cm (17 3/16 × 20 1/2 in.)
    mount: 49.7 × 59.1 cm (19 9/16 × 23 1/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2014.29.1.36

  • Series Title

    Property of the Lehigh Valley Central R.R. Co.

Associated Artworks

The image shows a lakeside scene with a mixture of bare ground, foliage, and a tree trunk in the foreground. Beyond is a small clearing leading to a calm lake, with trees and a distant treeline on the opposite shore. On the right, trees partially block the sky, and two figures are silhouetted against the water while sitting on a fallen log. The overall tone of the image is warm sepia, resembling an early photograph.

Ganoga Lake

William H. Rau

1890

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(sale, Houser Auctioneers, Schnecksville, PA, 22 February 2014); (Vintage Works, Ltd., Chalfont, PA); NGA purchase, 2014.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

bottom left, in typeset lettering printed through negative: 630 HEMLOCK FOREST. L.V.R.R.; bottom right: WILLIAM H. RAU, PHILA.

Wikidata ID

Q64170695

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