Edward Mitchell Bannister painted Woman Standing Near A Pond in 1880. The piece was created in Rhode Island, where he lived for much of his life. In the oil painting, a woman, simply dressed, passes through a country landscape. To her right, luminous, still waters reflect an atmospheric sky, suggesting the serene spirituality that the artist perceived in nature. The piece is painted in the Barbizon style of the 19th century, showcasing Bannister’s emotionally evocative brushstrokes, and deep tonalist color palette.