George Hetzel was the leader of a small group of Pittsburgh artists who journeyed to Scalp Level, near Johnstown, to paint landscapes in the late 19th century. The mountain village served as a retreat for Pittsburgh artists who worked together painting en plein air, as did their French contemporaries at Barbizon. Hetzel's Woodland Scene is a detailed composition which conveys an atmosphere of deep shadows, textures, and reflected light. It is one of a series of his landscapes of Western Pennsylvania painted at Scalp Level.
Born in France near Strasbourg, Hetzel moved to Pittsburgh with his parents at an early age. Between 1847 and 1849 the artist studied painting at the Düsseldorf Academy, where he developed a precisely realistic style reminiscent of the Barbizon painters of Fontainbleau. Throughout his career, he was acclaimed both as a portrait and a landscape artist. George Hetzel was one of three Pittsburgh artist to be represented at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. He also participated in the first International Exhibition at The Carnegie Institute in 1896, where a major retrospective of his work was presented in 1909. He is recognized as one of Pennsylvania's most significant artists.
George Hetzel was the leader of a small group of Pittsburgh artists who journeyed to Scalp Level, near Johnstown, to paint landscapes in the late 19th century. The mountain village served as a retreat for Pittsburgh artists who worked together painting en plein air, as did their French contemporaries at Barbizon. Hetzel's Woodland Scene is a detailed composition which conveys an atmosphere of deep shadows, textures, and reflected light. It is one of a series of his landscapes of Western Pennsylvania painted at Scalp Level.
Born in France near Strasbourg, Hetzel moved to Pittsburgh with his parents at an early age. Between 1847 and 1849 the artist studied painting at the Düsseldorf Academy, where he developed a precisely realistic style reminiscent of the Barbizon painters of Fontainbleau. Throughout his career, he was acclaimed both as a portrait and a landscape artist. George Hetzel was one of three Pittsburgh artist to be represented at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. He also participated in the first International Exhibition at The Carnegie Institute in 1896, where a major retrospective of his work was presented in 1909. He is recognized as one of Pennsylvania's most significant artists.