Near The Village, October is an oil-on-canvas painting created by American artist George Inness in 1892. The painting depicts a peaceful countryside scene that incorporates pastoral and industrial elements. Inness believed that the purpose of art is to evoke emotions within the viewer, which he sought to achieve through his use of soft brushstrokes, warm colors, and carefully crafted composition.
Inness was heavily influenced by several artistic movements, including the Old Masters, Hudson River school, and Barbizon school in France. He also drew inspiration from the spiritual teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg. Near The Village, October is one of Inness’s earliest works and was created during a time when the artist was struggling financially.
Despite its humble origins, Near The Village, October remains an important piece in Inness’s body of work. Today it can be found in the collection at Cincinnati Art Museum. Through this piece, viewers are invited into a serene rural landscape that reflects both nature’s beauty and human innovation–a hallmark theme throughout much of Inness’s oeuvre.