Woodwell's time spent studying the Barbizon school is clearly evident in
this work. A poetic atmosphere is created through loose brushwork and
somewhat dreary colors, with mere specks of sunlight illuminating the
well-worn landscape. A rustic two-story farmhouse sits in the right-middle
ground, seemingly inhabited but without an actual human presence visible.
In fact, there are no chickens or dogs, or any other living being at hand,
further inducing a sense of peace and tranquility. Unlike many of the
Scalp Level painters, the natural beauty of untouched forests and gurgling
clear streams is not addressed here. Instead, it's the quiet joys of rural
living that Woodwell celebrates. Repetitive use has naturally created bare
dirt spots in front of and leading to the farmhouse, indicative of a
homestead that has existed for some time and one in which its owners are
content with its simple functionality.
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