Study of Forrest (from Sketchbook) 1858 - 1916

Henry Ward Ranger made this black crayon sketch called ‘Study of Forrest’ on paper some time around the turn of the twentieth century. Ranger was a key figure in the Old Lyme Art Colony, one of the most prominent American art colonies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here we see the values that informed that movement. It depicts a thicket of trees with a sense of intimacy and immediacy. There’s a lack of dramatic narrative, and instead a focus on the quiet observation of nature. This aesthetic was in part a reaction against the more academic and grandiose styles that had dominated American art institutions earlier in the 19th century. To better understand Ranger’s artistic choices, one can delve into the archives of the Old Lyme Art Colony. These primary sources offer insights into the colony's values, social dynamics, and artistic exchanges, all of which shaped the art produced during this period.