Lesser Ury – Landscape, 1899 Sotheby’s

The composition presents a vista dominated by a sloping hillside and a distant mountain range veiled in atmospheric haze. The foreground is characterized by a vibrant expanse of green meadow, punctuated by scattered clusters of cattle grazing peacefully. A dense thicket of trees occupies the middle ground, their foliage rendered with loose brushstrokes that suggest both depth and an interplay of light and shadow. Sunlight filters through the canopy, creating pockets of illumination on the hillside and highlighting individual tree trunks.
The artist’s handling of color is notable. The greens of the meadow are varied – from a bright, almost luminous hue in areas directly touched by sunlight to darker, cooler tones in the shaded regions. This variation contributes to a sense of spatial recession. The trees themselves are painted with a range of dark greens and browns, interspersed with touches of yellow where light catches the leaves. Above, the sky is rendered as a turbulent mass of grey clouds, punctuated by patches of white suggesting breaks in the overcast conditions. A single mountain peak emerges from this atmospheric veil, its form softened by distance and diffused light.
The painting’s subtexts revolve around themes of pastoral tranquility and the sublime power of nature. The presence of livestock suggests a connection to rural life and agricultural practices. The vastness of the landscape, particularly the distant mountains, evokes a sense of awe and humility in the face of natural grandeur. The muted color palette and atmospheric perspective contribute to an overall mood of quiet contemplation. There is a deliberate avoidance of sharp detail; instead, emphasis is placed on capturing the essence of the scene through broad strokes and tonal variations. This approach suggests a focus not merely on depicting the landscape but also on conveying a feeling or emotional response to it. The work seems to explore the relationship between humanity and nature, presenting a vision of harmony and peaceful coexistence within a grand, natural setting.