Brush; and Hudson Brush Fence 1866

This graphite on paper work, *Brush; and Hudson Brush Fence,* by Andrew Fisher Bunner presents two distinct studies of natural forms. The composition is divided horizontally, inviting a comparative reading of the two scenes. In the upper section, the angular lines of the brush fence create a dense, almost architectural structure, while the lower study offers a softer, more diffuse arrangement of foliage. Bunner's use of line varies, from sharp, defined strokes to softer, more blurred marks. The drawing's emphasis on texture and form over detail anticipates the dissolution of solid form prevalent in Impressionism. The interplay between the structural solidity of the fence and the organic flow of the foliage challenges our perception of nature as either ordered or chaotic. Bunner’s piece operates within a semiotic system, where the 'brush' and 'fence' act as signs, prompting reflections on nature and artifice. The fence, a man-made structure, imposes order on the wildness of nature.