Susquehanna River at Catawissa, Pennsylvania 1852

Curator: This is Sanford Robinson Gifford’s sketch, "Susquehanna River at Catawissa, Pennsylvania," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels so serene, almost dreamlike, despite its simplicity. The soft pencil strokes create a hazy atmosphere. Curator: The composition is quite deliberate, isn’t it? The way Gifford uses the horizon line to divide the page creates a sense of depth and scale. It also evokes an awareness of the sublime. Editor: Absolutely. And consider the historical context: Gifford was painting during a time of rapid industrialization. Works like this can be read as a nostalgic longing for an untouched landscape, a commentary on environmental change. Curator: That reading definitely holds weight, but I am drawn to Gifford's formal exploration here, the subtle variations in line and tone. It is a study of pure form. Editor: It's interesting how the sketch's minimalist aesthetic underscores the weight of that historical moment, giving the simple scene so much depth. Curator: Indeed. There is far more than meets the eye with the slightest of sketches.