Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Ernest Lawson died in 1939; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2009.
In context
Spring Night, Harlem River — Ernest Lawson
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 66 at death.
Painted when the artist was 40. The artist lived to 66. 22 of the 57 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of Ernest Lawson (1873–1939) ▲ this work, 1913 every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1907 Main working years: 1907–1918 Late works: from 1918
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/ernest-lawson-spring-night-harlem-river-D3XW2U-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Sea Green #405d56
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 52.5% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 161 works by this artist, of which 58 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 19 of them, with 1.2% of that attention. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
About this artwork
Spring Night, Harlem River — Ernest Lawson
Ernest Lawson, a member of turn of the 19th and 20th Century group of American painters known as The Eight, and an exhibitor in the 1913 Armory Show, achieved early recognition with his impressionist landscape paintings. Lawson studied at the Art Students League in New York, and took summer classes in Cos Cob, Connecticut under John Henry Twachtman and Julian Alden Weir. Additionally, while living in France from 1893-1896, Lawson briefly attended the Acedémie Julian and shared a Paris studio with the writer Somerset Maugham, who used him as the model for the artist in his novel, Of Human Bondage. A meeting with Alfred Sisley at Moret-sur-Loing confirmed Lawson’s love of painting outdoors. Settled in New York by 1898, Lawson concentrated on sites of upper Manhattan – their light, seasons, and times of day. It was during this time that he joined the rebellion against the National Academy of Design when his work was rejected in 1905, and through his friend William Glackens, became a member of the Eight. Spring Night Harlem River is a work that comes from the pinnacle of Lawson’s career. In it, the Washington Bridge at 181st Street is observed from below, against the night sky, heightening the drama and the powerful impact of the huge span. The blue and green tonalities of the painting, with its white, pink and gold highlights create a rich tapestry of color that undoubtedly attracted Duncan Phillips. To express how it enchanted him, he drew oh his literary background: “His ‘Moonlight Harlem River’ is Shakespearean with its home lights and bridge lamps glimmering in a tremulous turquoise air as in some garden of romance.”
Artist and museum
Born in Halifax, Canada
ernest lawson, a prominent figure in the american impressionist movement, was born on march 22, 1873, in halifax, nova scotia, canada. in 1888, he moved to the united states, settling in kansas city, and later, in 1891, he made his way to new york, where he enrolled in classes at the art students league. under the tutelage of john twachtman, lawson was introduced to impressionism, which would significantly influence his formative years.
lawson's style, characterized by a blend of impressionism and realism, was shaped by his interactions with various artists. he studied at the académie julian in paris in 1893, where he met jean-joseph benjamin-constant and jean-paul laurens. his plein air painting experiences in southern france and moret-sur-loing, where he encountered alfred sisley, an english impressionist, further enriched his artistic perspective.
in 1908, lawson joined the eight, a group of artists protesting the narrow tastes and restrictive exhibition policies of the national academy of design. this association led to a pivotal exhibition at the macbeth galleries in new york, which garnered significant media attention and sparked debate about the diversity of style and subject matter in american art.
city suburbs, one of lawson's notable works, is now part of the phillips collection in washington, d.c., showcasing his unique blend of impressionism and realism. (view at AllPaintingsStore)
another piece, approaching storm, also in the phillips collection, demonstrates lawson's mastery of capturing the essence of american landscapes. (view at AllPaintingsStore)
for more on ernest lawson and his contributions to american impressionism, visit his page on AllPaintingsStore.
lawson's understated yet vibrant style, described by art critic james gibbons huneker as originating from a "palette of crushed jewels," has left an indelible mark on american art. his participation in the eight and his unique artistic approach have made him a notable figure in the history of impressionism. key points: born: march 22, 1873, halifax, nova scotia, canada died: december 18, 1939 notable works: city suburbs, approaching storm influences: john twachtman, jean-joseph benjamin-constant, alfred sisley association: the eight style: blend of impressionism and realism
originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/ernest-lawson-spring-night-harlem-river-D3XW2U-en/
Look closely
Spring Night, Harlem River — Ernest Lawson
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
"Spring Night, Harlem River" is available as a high-resolution digital image download, purchased directly on its Digital Image page.
"Spring Night, Harlem River" by Ernest Lawson is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. Copyright duration runs from the artist's death, which occurred in 1939.
"Spring Night, Harlem River" by Ernest Lawson can be viewed as a slideshow on the artwork's Diaporama page.