Lot Essay
In 1917, Hennings was commissioned by Carter H. Harrison, former mayor of Chicago, and Oscar E. Mayer, the meat-packing dynasty owner, to travel and paint in New Mexico. He travelled to Laguna, Acoma, Santa Fe and Taos. In 1924, he settled in Taos permanently and was elected into active membership in the Taos Society of Artists, with well-known artists such as Sharp, Couse and Berninghaus. His time in New Mexico had a profound impact on both his style and subject matter.
"Landscape plays so important a part of my work, and subjects of sage, mountain and sky. Nothing thrills me more, when in fall, the aspen and cottonwoods are in color and with the sunlight playing across them--all the poetry and drama, all the moods and changes of nature are there to inspire one to greater accomplishments from year to year" (Hennings in P. Broder, p. 253.) Inspiration from nature is evident in Towering Aspen, Rio Hondo Canyon, New Mexico as Hennings portrays figures of Taos Indians riding amongst aspen trees. To the artist, Indians riding horseback through the woods were the symbol of the eternal procession of life in New Mexico; the life of the Indians and their continual inter-relationship with the surrounding nature. Hennings' structural and harmonious composition symbolizes this eternal procession between the two forces.
Hennings' inspired use of light-infused color is also evident in Towering Aspen, Rio Hondo Canyon, New Mexico. The color further accentuates the Indians' relationship to nature as the bilious clouds, rich yellow aspens and green pines create a harmoniuos backdrop for the Indians on horseback. Figures are somewhat rare in Hennings' landscapes, yet the bright colors magnify the beauty and grandeur of the Taos landscape and the Indians' symbiotic relationship between the two.
"Landscape plays so important a part of my work, and subjects of sage, mountain and sky. Nothing thrills me more, when in fall, the aspen and cottonwoods are in color and with the sunlight playing across them--all the poetry and drama, all the moods and changes of nature are there to inspire one to greater accomplishments from year to year" (Hennings in P. Broder, p. 253.) Inspiration from nature is evident in Towering Aspen, Rio Hondo Canyon, New Mexico as Hennings portrays figures of Taos Indians riding amongst aspen trees. To the artist, Indians riding horseback through the woods were the symbol of the eternal procession of life in New Mexico; the life of the Indians and their continual inter-relationship with the surrounding nature. Hennings' structural and harmonious composition symbolizes this eternal procession between the two forces.
Hennings' inspired use of light-infused color is also evident in Towering Aspen, Rio Hondo Canyon, New Mexico. The color further accentuates the Indians' relationship to nature as the bilious clouds, rich yellow aspens and green pines create a harmoniuos backdrop for the Indians on horseback. Figures are somewhat rare in Hennings' landscapes, yet the bright colors magnify the beauty and grandeur of the Taos landscape and the Indians' symbiotic relationship between the two.