Skip to main contentProvenanceThe artist
Margo Pollins Schab, Inc., New York, New York
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1995
Exhibition HistoryPublished References
Arthur Wesley Dow
(American, 1857–1922)
The Purple Sky (The Long Road), Spring
1916
Color woodcut on cream Japanese paper
Sheet: 5 x 7 3/4 in. (12.7 x 19.7 cm)
Mat: 11 x 14 in. (27.9 x 35.6 cm)
Mat: 11 x 14 in. (27.9 x 35.6 cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1995.32
SignedIn graphite at lower left of image: Arthur Wesley Dow
InterpretationThe Purple Sky (The Long Road), Spring is Arthur Wesley Dow's lyrical impression of the countryside near his native Ipswich, Massachusetts, a flat coastal landscape whose broad vistas and changeable skies proved an important source of inspiration for his art. In this work, the expanse of soft purple sky and muted grays and greens of the landscape evoke a time of day that is either early dawn or late twilight, in early spring. Additionally, this harmonious color scheme, which is more decorative than realistic, emphasizes the abstract quality of the amorphous shapes of clouds, fields, roadway, and tree foliage.
Arthur Wesley Dow made this print, and its companion, The Long Road, Argilla Road (TF 1996.6), from the same set of woodblocks, but he created very different effects by printing them in different color combinations. This print, along with another pair of variant woodcuts, Moonrise (TF 1996.4) and Marsh Creek (TF 1996.5), demonstrate Dow's use of color woodcut technique to explore principles of design and color inspired by the aesthetics of the Japanese woodblock prints he avidly studied. In turn, Dow's printmaking in what he called "color themes" helped him to impart these principles to his many students.
Arthur Wesley Dow made this print, and its companion, The Long Road, Argilla Road (TF 1996.6), from the same set of woodblocks, but he created very different effects by printing them in different color combinations. This print, along with another pair of variant woodcuts, Moonrise (TF 1996.4) and Marsh Creek (TF 1996.5), demonstrate Dow's use of color woodcut technique to explore principles of design and color inspired by the aesthetics of the Japanese woodblock prints he avidly studied. In turn, Dow's printmaking in what he called "color themes" helped him to impart these principles to his many students.
Margo Pollins Schab, Inc., New York, New York
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1995
Exhibition History
Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920 (The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, April 1–July 15, 1999. [exh. cat.]
On Process: The American Print, Technique Examined, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 13–March 2, 2001.
Le Japonisme en Amérique: oeuvres sur papier, 1880–1930 (Japonisme in America: Works on Paper, 1880–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, September 15–November 30, 2002.
Manifest Destiny, Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois and Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venue: Loyola University Museum of Art, May 17–August 10, 2008. [exh. cat.]
On Process: The American Print, Technique Examined, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, January 13–March 2, 2001.
Le Japonisme en Amérique: oeuvres sur papier, 1880–1930 (Japonisme in America: Works on Paper, 1880–1930), Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France (organizer). Venue: Musée d'Art Américain Giverny, France, September 15–November 30, 2002.
Manifest Destiny, Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois and Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venue: Loyola University Museum of Art, May 17–August 10, 2008. [exh. cat.]
Cartwright, Derrick R. The City and the Country: American Perspectives, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text p. 12; fig. 2, p. 12 (black & white). [specific reference to Terra print]
Cartwright, Derrick R. Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text p. 12; fig. 2, p. 12 (black & white). [specific reference to Terra print]
Brownlee, Peter John. Manifest Destiny / Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. (exh. cat., Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art and Loyola University Museum of Art, 2008. Text p. 35 (checklist); Ill. Pl. 13, p. 49 (color).
Cartwright, Derrick R. Ville et campagne: les artistes américains, 1870–1920. (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Américain Giverny). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1999. Text p. 12; fig. 2, p. 12 (black & white). [specific reference to Terra print]
Brownlee, Peter John. Manifest Destiny / Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. (exh. cat., Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art and Loyola University Museum of Art, 2008. Text p. 35 (checklist); Ill. Pl. 13, p. 49 (color).