October

Object Details

Artist

John Whetten Ehninger, born New York City 1827-died Saratoga, NY 1889

Luce Center Label

John Whetten Ehninger captured the clear atmosphere and brilliant colors of the harvest season. Golden light reflects off of the trees and fields, suffusing the soft clouds above with a comforting glow. A scene like this, evoking community, peace, and plenty, was especially powerful after the Civil War. Ehninger’s image recalls a “golden day” when the nation was innocent and its fields had not been torn by cannon fire. In the year this painting was made, a poet acknowledged the nostalgic power of the harvest with the words, “What calls back the past, like rich Pumpkin pie?/Oh!---fruit of loved boyhood!---the old days recalling.” (Harper’s Weekly, November 23, 1867)

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase

1867

Object number

1971.290

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Painting

Medium

oil on canvas

Dimensions

32 1/4 x 54 1/8 in. (82.0 x 137.6 cm.)

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Painting and Sculpture

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Topic

Occupation\farm\harvesting

Landscape\farm

Animal\cattle

Landscape\season\autumn

Landscape\plant\pumpkin

Figure group\male and female

Record ID

saam_1971.290

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7c04e4645-2713-486f-bae8-8ea2d411486d