ORThe Open Room
Digital gallery
Back to the NGA collection
The image features flowing lines and sharp angles, with a seated figure and rounded shapes placed along a horizontal plane. The composition includes intricate cross-hatching and sweeping curves, suggesting a landscape intertwined with man-made structures. The figure appears to be a woman in a draped gown leaning forward gracefully. Next to her are small, rounded forms with circular eyes resembling owls. These elements are joined by abstract foliage and linear details creating a dreamlike scene.
Read the visual description

The image features flowing lines and sharp angles, with a seated figure and rounded shapes placed along a horizontal plane. The composition includes intricate cross-hatching and sweeping curves, suggesting a landscape intertwined with man-made structures. The figure appears to be a woman in a draped gown leaning forward gracefully. Next to her are small, rounded forms with circular eyes resembling owls. These elements are joined by abstract foliage and linear details creating a dreamlike scene.

National Gallery of Art · Print

A Lesson in Wisdom

Frederick Stuart Church

Date
1883
Medium
etching
Dimensions
plate: 253 x 374 mm sheet: 335 x 483 mm
Classification
Print
Accession number
2008.115.1237
Credit line
Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams
Time span
1876 to 1900
Department
CG-W
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Seated figure
  • Woman
  • Moon
  • Owl
Provenance

William Greenbaum Fine Arts; Louis Prang

Inscription

lower right in plate: Copyright by/F.S. CHURCH. NY/1883; lower right in graphite: Mr. Prang/Compliments. F.S. Church

NGA object ID 148553. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.