Picnic in the Woods, Montclair, New Jersey (1894) Art Print | George Inness

George Inness was one of the most influential American landscape painters of the 19th century, often regarded as the father of American landscape painting. Though he began his career influenced by the Hudson River School—with its detailed, romantic depictions of nature—Inness’s mature style evolved into something more spiritual, atmospheric, and deeply personal.

Inspired by the French Barbizon school and the philosophical teachings of Swedish mystic Emanuel Swedenborg, Inness sought to portray not just the physical beauty of nature but its emotional and spiritual essence. His landscapes were often dreamlike, with soft brushwork, glowing light, and a sense of stillness that invited reflection.

Over his lifetime, Inness produced hundreds of works ranging from pastoral countryside scenes to dramatic twilight vistas. His ability to evoke mood and metaphysical presence in landscape painting had a profound impact on American art, paving the way for modernist interpretations of nature. Today, his works are held in major institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art.