John Joseph Enneking (1841–1916)
Mountain Stream, 1871

Oil on canvas
McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, 1988.66

Jeffery Howe
Professor Emeritus, Art History

This image of white water streaming over rocks in a mountain setting captures an unspoiled image of the American landscape. The varied topography of the Adirondacks and the White Mountains were popular subjects for artists, who found a ready market for their paintings in urban audiences seeking images of restorative nature. The untamed rushing water was an image of power and freedom, an analogy that resonated in America.