Bay, Hill, and Figure on Shore (from Sketchbook X) 1885

"Bay, Hill, and Figure on Shore" (1885) is a pencil drawing on paper by American artist William Trost Richards, known for his landscapes and seascapes. This small, intimate sketch, part of a larger sketchbook, captures a fleeting moment, depicting a bay with a distant figure standing on the shore and a hill rising in the background, showcasing Richards' keen eye for observation and his ability to translate natural scenes with economy of line. Currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this sketch offers insight into Richards' working process and his interest in capturing the subtle beauty of the natural world.