Village Scene near Albany, New York

This image shows a small town to the west of James M. Hart’s home in Albany, New York. He preferred to paint intimate views of country life, rather than dramatic vistas of the wilderness, to show that man and nature could coexist in peace. In Village Scene, the comforting view of farm life, with its children, grazing cows, and picturesque buildings, is further emphasized by the soft shifts of dappled light across the landscape.