The Wood Chopper
1849
George Inness painted this serene landscape early in his career, long before he became famous for his moody, spiritual 'Tonalist' works. Notice how the massive, leafy trees dwarf the two tiny figures in the foreground—a classic trick of the Romantic movement to show how small humans are compared to the grandeur of nature. The rolling hills and detailed rocks show his Hudson River School influences, capturing a peaceful, sunny day in the American countryside. Interestingly, Inness started out as a map engraver, which might explain the precise attention to the landscape's geography here.
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