Painted circa 1861-66, Haystack at Sunset invites the viewer to explore this largely untouched landscape, as a rowboat placed in the central foreground provides entry into the scene. As the meandering path of the water widens into the open horizon dotted with sailboats, the glowing orb of the sun setting behind the purple-pink clouds firmly underscores the divinity of the landscape. The veritable mountain of harvested salt hay overwhelms the diminutive worker seen in the distance, visually emphasizing how nature remains unconquered by man in this landscape. A quintessential luminist composition, the dramatic, awesome sky fills two-thirds of the canvas, even as the strong horizontal format and hazy atmospheric perspective create an effect of absolute calm and serenity. Martin Johnson Heade (August 11, 1819 – September 4, 1904) was an American painter known for his salt marsh landscapes, seascapes, and depictions of tropical birds (such as hummingbirds), as well as lotus blossoms and other still lifes. His painting style and subject matter, while derived from the romanticism of the time, are regarded by art historians as a significant departure from those of his peers Available as a fine art print and as a stretched canvas panel (heavy fine art canvas stretched over 1.5 inch deep edge solid wood frame) All prints are made using archival art stocks and UV pigment inks to give up to 200 years life. Prints are sold unframed and unmounted.
