Artwork preview

Clouds

Thomas Cole

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The painting depicts a large, fluffy white cloud in a blue-gray sky. The cloud is positioned on the right side of the image and is illuminated from within, giving it a bright white center that gradually fades to gray towards the edges. The cloud has a puffy, cotton-like texture with visible brushstrokes. The sky around the cloud is blue-gray with darker gray clouds scattered throughout. A thin line of trees and bushes is visible at the bottom of the image, mostly green and brown. The overall color palette is muted, with shades of blue, gray, white, and brown dominating the scene.

Artwork Details

Date
ca. 1838
Medium
Oil on paper laid down on canvas
Culture
American
Dimensions
600 × 488 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette