Three Boats on Water (Long Island Sound?) (from Sketchbook) 1858 - 1916

Henry Ward Ranger made this sketch, titled 'Three Boats on Water (Long Island Sound?)', on a sheet of paper sometime during his lifetime, between 1858 and 1916. As a prominent figure in the American art scene, Ranger was deeply influenced by the Impressionist movement, which sought to capture the fleeting, sensory effects of a scene. Ranger's choice of subject matter, the Long Island Sound, is telling. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coastal landscapes were rapidly transforming, and the waters, once sources of life, became sites of recreation. The rough, almost hasty strokes of Ranger's pencil reveal the intimate, emotional connection between the artist and the depicted scenery. One can almost feel Ranger's own experience of viewing the Sound. While the sketch is subtle, it subtly hints at broader societal shifts, and captures the emotional resonance of a changing American landscape.