Tuscany c. 1858

Elihu Vedder made this drawing, entitled "Tuscany," in pen and ink on paper. Vedder lived in Italy for much of his adult life. He was part of the expatriate artist community, made up of Americans who felt that Europe held more artistic opportunities than the United States. This drawing gives us a glimpse into the lives of everyday Italians. Vedder depicts a modest rural scene, a landscape dotted with simple buildings and working-class figures going about their day. Vedder romanticized Italian peasant life. Yet his depictions often glossed over the social and economic hardships faced by rural communities in Italy during this period. The artist developed his own aesthetic and spiritual approach; he blended Pre-Raphaelite, Symbolist, and Art Nouveau elements. "Tuscany" invites us to consider the complexities of cultural exchange and representation, prompting us to reflect on whose stories are told and how they are framed.