The mess cart. Aug. 6, 1863 (1863)

Dated 1863, "The mess cart. Aug. 6, 1863" is an artwork by Edwin Forbes. The catalogue places it in Drawings. The format is landscape. Drawings, a short history: Artists have long used drawings to plan paintings, sculptures, and buildings, so a sketch can show how an idea developed. Because line carries so much of the effect, drawings tend to reward close looking at the quality of the mark. Historical background, 1863: In the 1890s, colour lithography and Art Nouveau made the illustrated poster a celebrated art form. The later nineteenth century is the era of Impressionism, whose first group exhibition was held in Paris in 1874, followed by Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, and the Arts and Crafts movement.

"The mess cart. Aug. 6, 1863" is shown in the onlly.art catalogue for reference and browsing. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Drawings and sketches stand out through line clarity and a sense of the artist process, which makes them a natural fit for minimalist, monochrome, and graphic interiors. Browsing works by the same artist, or from the same period, is a good way to compare styles before choosing what suits your space.

American, 1839–1895

If you like the visual language of Edwin Forbes, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.