Untitled (Wooded Landscape) c. 1880

Samuel Colman created this "Untitled (Wooded Landscape)" etching sometime during his lifetime, between 1832 and 1920. Colman was part of the Hudson River School, a mid-19th century American art movement. The paintings of the Hudson River School often include themes of discovery, exploration, and settlement, reflecting both an appreciation for nature and the ideology of Manifest Destiny. It's interesting to see how Colman's rendering of the landscape differs from this traditional approach. His close-up perspective creates an intimate space for the viewer, inviting contemplation. The tight interweaving of the tree's bare branches creates a textural richness. While the Hudson River School artists often sought the sublime in landscape, Colman seems more interested in the intimacy and the close observation of nature. There’s an expressive quality to the lines that suggest a personal engagement with the scene. This turn inward perhaps reflects shifting cultural values during the late 19th century as industrialization progressed and interest in the wilderness shifted.