Days of Long Ago by Henry F. Farny

This work of great poetic serenity perfectly captures the quiet intimacy of the daily life of nomadic American tribes. In his painting entitled “Days of Long Ago”, the virtuoso Henry Farny favors a naturalistic and peaceful approach to representing the peoples of North America. The work illustrates this artistic movement that seeks to capture the silent beauty of wild landscapes and the sacred relationship uniting man to nourishing water.

At peaceful twilight, Native American riders calmly cross a wide river with quiet and dark waters reflecting the golden glow of the sky. In the foreground, a warrior on a black horse lets his mount drink water, while next to him another companion on horseback accompanies him. In the background, on the opposite bank, several traditional tepees are pitched among the tall trees of a colorful autumn forest. A small campfire gently smokes near the dwellings, while other horses graze in the distance. An immense rocky cliff with pink and ocher hues majestically dominates the entire natural landscape under a soft, luminous sky.

The artist excels in the treatment of aquatic reflections and the vaporous atmosphere of the end of the day. His color palette, rich in warm and golden tones, gives the scene a deeply spiritual dimension. The precision of the drawing of the horses and the trees testifies to his immense talent.