Lot Note:

Edward Redfield, revered as the most American of the Pennsylvania Impressionists for his intrepid and individualistic spirit, honed a peculiar aesthetic, fast and free in an impressionist way, but also committed to a realistic appraisal of the natural world around him. Far from being bucolic, his paintings instead expressed nature’s magnificence by emphasizing its wild essence. Redfield viewed nature as a force to reckon with, a force in constant renewal and upheaval through seasonal cycles of growth and decay, but he never backed down from the challenge of confronting it, literally and pictorially.   

Redfield is known to have braved the elements in all types of inclement weather to paint the Bucks County countryside. The bold, somewhat erratic brushwork evident in Spring Meadow mirrors his daring temperament. Here, artistry lies as much in the process as it does in the result. What is on full display, beyond the raw landscape awakening from harsh winter conditions, is Redfield’s vigorous manner capturing it on canvas. Throughout the seemingly deserted landscape, unmistakable energy resurfaces and surges in fits and starts, materialized by the forceful and broken brushstrokes. One can imagine sounds of flowing waters resonating, foliage freely humming in the wind, and a lingering hazy chill permeating the air.

Redfield’s aesthetic is honest, portraying the sometimes-gruff quality of nature in blatant, unsubtle terms. Not so much untamable—man does alter his environment, and Redfield’s paintings account for such alterations—nature is revealed in its deeply ungraspable quality. Redfield, as an artist, recognized the force that nature represents, one that he couldn’t possibly entirely translate, much less fathom. At the heart of his brazen style—an attempt to seize the rawness of nature, but also a surrender to it—lies profound humility. 

The relined canvas is in overall very good condition. Craquelure present throughout the work. A small spot of soiling present at upper right near edge. UV: evidence of cosmetic retouching present at lower left corner extreme edge and in trees at left. Additional images available upon request.

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