Atlantic & Great Western Railway

1862

James F. Ryder

Associated Names
James F. Ryder

Artist, American, 1826 - 1904

The image shows a view along railroad tracks curving through a forested area. The tracks lead into the distance where they disappear with a slight bend to the right. To the left, there is a sharply angled bank of earth with rough texture and sparse vegetation at the top. The bank displays various earthy tones from dark browns to blacks. In the distance, there is a dense line of tall, slender trees flanking the right side of the tracks, with their trunks creating a natural wall of dark greens and browns. The horizon is obscured by the thick tree line, with the sky appearing pale and fading into a soft, muted cream color. The overall color palette is subdued, consisting of earthy tones and natural hues, typical of a black-and-white or sepia-toned photograph.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    albumen silver print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Mary and Dan Solomon and Patrons' Permanent Fund

  • Dimensions

    image/sheet: 18.7 × 23.5 cm (7 3/8 × 9 1/4 in.)
    mount: 25.5 × 32.8 cm (10 1/16 × 12 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2006.133.117

  • Series Title

    Atlantic & Great Western Railway


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Mary and Dan Solomon; purchase and gift to NGA, 2006.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2017

  • East of the Mississippi, National Gallery of Art, Washington; New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, 2017 - 2018, no. 131.

Bibliography

1904

  • Ryder, James, "Photographing a Railroad", American Annual of Photography and Photographic Times-Bulletin Almanac for 1904, (1904): 144-146.

Inscriptions

lower center below image on mount, stamped in gold: J. F. Ryder, Photographist, Cleveland, O. / Atlantic & Great Western Railway.; by unknown hand, upper right in graphite: 30; on verso, by unknown hand, upper right in graphite: 30 / 3000-; lower left in graphite: 4864

Wikidata ID

Q64155456

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