Dwelling (from Sketchbook X) 1885

William Trost Richards made this pen and ink drawing, Dwelling, as part of his Sketchbook X. The dwelling appears humble. Perhaps a farmhouse or rural dwelling, built with logs. Without a specific date, one must look to other sources for information about the artist’s travels. Richards was active during a period when American artists were turning away from European subjects and towards the landscape of their own country. The location of the dwelling is unknown, though it can be presumed it’s somewhere in the United States. One might look to publications from the Metropolitan Museum to discover more about the artist’s travels during the period in which the drawing was made. Regardless of location, the social history of rural America can shed light on the meaning of this image. The rise of industrialization and the growth of cities in the late 19th century made rural life a subject of nostalgia. Images of humble dwellings spoke to this longing for a simpler way of life.