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Art Institute of Chicago

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John Henry Twachtman — Icebound
John Henry Twachtman

Icebound

1889

During the last decade of his life, John Henry Twachtman frequently painted views of the landscape surrounding his home in Greenwich, Connecticut. In a departure from typically barren images of winter, he enjoyed depicting the beauty of the frozen terrain, believing that it was conducive to contemplation and regeneration. The dense layers of paint in Icebound mimic the accumulation of snow on frozen ground, and the sinuous curves that define the snow and ice against the water suggest movement in an otherwise tranquil environment. Almost square in format, the painting’s harmonious composition exemplifies Twachtman’s opinion that “never is nature more lovely than when it is snowing.”

Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions

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About this work

John Henry Twachtman, Icebound, 1889

During the last decade of his life, John Henry Twachtman frequently painted views of the landscape surrounding his home in Greenwich, Connecticut. In a departure from typically barren images of winter, he enjoyed depicting the beauty of the frozen terrain, believing that it was conducive to contemplation and regeneration. The dense layers of paint in Icebound mimic the accumulation of snow on frozen ground, and the sinuous curves that define the snow and ice against the water suggest movement in an otherwise tranquil environment. Almost square in format, the painting’s harmonious composition exemplifies Twachtman’s opinion that “never is nature more lovely than when it is snowing.”

Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
64.2 x 76.6 cm
Year
1889
Seen at
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Related themes

Modern, Unique Work, Painting, Oil on Canvas

More works by John Henry Twachtman

Collected by

Cleveland Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago