Autumn Oaks

During the 1870s Inness moved away from detailed description towards more generalised landscape. The museum connects this change with Italian travel and Swedenborg’s philosophy. Light and relationships among broad colour areas become central to the view.

Orange-brown crowns fill the central slope. Individual trees combine into a broad area of autumn colour.

A yellow tree stands left of the grove. Its lighter hue varies the colour within one area of vegetation.

A dark cow stands in the foreground. Its substantial silhouette establishes distance from the farther herd.

A small herd grazes along a sunlit strip. Animals connect the natural view with agricultural life.

White birds cross dark clouds. Small pale marks remain visible through strong tonal contrast.

Pale sky opens between grey layers. Changing illumination connects separate areas of landscape.

Inness made small outdoor sketches and developed them in the studio. Swedenborg helps explain his interest in nature’s spiritual meaning without establishing a separate hidden significance for every tree.