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The image shows a low angle view near narrow-gauge railroad tracks running diagonally. A line of dense trees marks the horizon, separating the sky from a body of water. Several trees fill the scene, casting shadows and creating a textured canopy. The color palette is subdued with sepia tones. Light filters through the branches, creating a serene atmosphere that extends into the water and distant trees. The placement of tracks and natural elements creates a balance between man-made and natural features.
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The image shows a low angle view near narrow-gauge railroad tracks running diagonally. A line of dense trees marks the horizon, separating the sky from a body of water. Several trees fill the scene, casting shadows and creating a textured canopy. The color palette is subdued with sepia tones. Light filters through the branches, creating a serene atmosphere that extends into the water and distant trees. The placement of tracks and natural elements creates a balance between man-made and natural features.

National Gallery of Art · Photograph

Beechwood Lake

William H. Rau

Date
c. 1895
Medium
albumen silver print
Dimensions
image: 43.7 × 52.1 cm (17 3/16 × 20 1/2 in.) mount: 49.7 × 59.1 cm (19 9/16 × 23 1/4 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Accession number
2014.29.1.23
Credit line
Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund
Time span
1876 to 1900
Department
CPH
Original NGA record Wikidata

Portfolio and series

Series
Property of the Lehigh Valley Central R.R. Co.

Subjects and terms

  • American
  • albumen silver print
  • Forest
  • Railroad
  • Pennsylvania
  • landscape
Provenance

(sale, Houser Auctioneers, Schnecksville, PA, 22 February 2014); (Vintage Works, Ltd., Chalfont, PA); NGA purchase, 2014.

Inscription

bottom left, in typeset lettering printed through negative: 627 BEECHWOOD LAKE. L.V.R.R.; bottom right: WILLIAM H. RAU, PHILA.

NGA object ID 165372. 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.