Back Road c. 1940s

"Back Road" is a color woodcut created by Bernard Joseph Steffen in the 1940s. The artwork depicts a bucolic landscape, with a horse-drawn carriage traveling along a winding road. The scene is dominated by two large trees, one in the foreground and one in the background, which are depicted in a stylized, almost abstract manner. Steffen uses a limited color palette, primarily focusing on shades of blue, green, and brown, to create a sense of tranquility and serenity. The work is characteristic of Steffen's artistic style, which drew inspiration from regionalist and modernist movements in American art. "Back Road" is an example of Steffen's notable skill in depicting the beauty of rural life.