The Rhine at Bacharach
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Carolann Smurthwaite in memory of her mother, Caroline Atherton Connell Smurthwaite
Accession Number
1983.83.177
Tags
Art Historical Context
George Elbert Burr's *The Rhine at Bacharach* (1900) captures the timeless beauty of Germany's Romantic Rhine River at the picturesque town of Bacharach. This drawing, housed in the Smithsonian American Art, reflects Burr's skill as an American artist who often explored dramatic landscapes. Created at the turn of the 20th century, it evokes the era's fascination with Europe's historic river valleys, where medieval castles and vineyards dotted the shores, inspiring travelers and artists alike. As a drawing, the work highlights Burr's mastery of line and tone to convey atmosphere and light—tech...
About the Artist
George Elbert Burr
George Elbert Burr was an American printmaker and watercolorist whose career spanned the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, earning him a reputation as one of the foremost etchers of the American West. Born in 1859 in Monroe Falls, Ohio, Burr trained as a commercial illustrator before turning his full attention to fine art. He honed his craft through diligent self-study and close obser...