Susquehanna below Nanticoke, Pennsylvania 1852

Thomas Addison Richards made "Susquehanna below Nanticoke, Pennsylvania," a pencil drawing on paper, sometime in the 19th Century. At first glance, the detailed foreground gives way to a hazy background. The density of marks and lines in the lower left contrasts with the smooth, open sky, creating an immediate spatial dynamic. Richards' use of line is particularly striking. Short, repetitive strokes build up the forms of the trees, grass, and cattle, almost dissolving into a unified texture. This technique contrasts with the smoother application on the river and distant hills. Notice how the composition invites the eye to move from the lower-left corner diagonally across the river to the opposite bank, and up to the distant hills. The drawing functions as more than just a picturesque scene; it embodies a meditation on space, depth, and the interplay between detailed observation and atmospheric effect. The open composition suggests a conceptual framework in which perception and representation are understood as fluid and interconnected, inviting a continuous re-evaluation.