The artwork, titled “On the Esopus at Hurley, New York,” was created by David Johnson in 1858. It belongs to the Luminism art movement and is categorized under the landscape genre.
The artwork exudes tranquility, depicting a serene river scene set against the backdrop of a picturesque countryside. The river, Esopus Creek, is rendered with remarkable clarity and precision, reflecting the soft light of the sky above. The banks of the river are lush with vegetation, with large trees dominating the right side of the composition, their leaves capturing the gentle play of light and shadow. The left side offers a view of a more open landscape with a distant church steeple, hinting at a rural community. The sky, painted in warm tones of yellow and soft pink, enhances the overall peaceful ambiance, embodying the key characteristics of the Luminism movement, which focuses on the effects of light and atmosphere.
