June - Connecticut

The farm that Julian Alden Weir acquired near Branchville, Connecticut, in 1882 proved to be much more than a place to live. It had a far deeper influence, becoming a haven that inspired his work as a painter, so much so that the American artist Frank Duveneck remarked that it was in fact the farm that made Weir a landscape painter.

The painting June, Connecticut reflects both Weir's intimate knowledge of his beloved land as well as a sophistication in composition that demonstrated his skills as a painter. The work exhibits a surprising modernity in its approach, achieving an ambiguous, unfinished quality and a geometric feel with its bands of subdued color. By the time this work was done, Weir had adopted many of the characteristics of the impressionists he had previously scorned. This is seen most notably in the very visible brushstrokes that are utilized in this painting.