Figure Sketches by the Surf, East Hampton, New York
probably July 1858
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Louis P. Church
Accession Number
1917-4-1309-b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
In the summer of 1858, Edwin Church, a master of the Hudson River School, the fleeting energy of beachgoers in *Figure Sketches by the Surf East Hampton, New York This intimate drawing, likely created en plein air during a July visit to the Long Island shores, reflects Church's deep connection to the American landscape. East Hampton was a haven for artists seeking inspiration from the Atlantic's raw power, and Church—renowned for epic canvases like *Niagara* and *Heart of the Andes*—often turned to quick sketches to study light, movement, and nature's interplay with human figures. As a prepar...