In Autumn Afternoon, Home, Merrill Coffin offers a rare glimpse into rural Americana through one of his few known paintings to feature a car. Known primarily for his vivid landscapes and portraits of small-town life, this work stands apart, both for its compositional choices and the quiet narrative it evokes.
The painting captures a warm autumn day, bathed in golden light. A modest wooden farmhouse, its planked exterior weathered by time, anchors the scene. Two windows with white curtains frame the front, and a screen door sits in the middle, inviting the viewer to imagine the life within. Sitting just outside the home, a woman in simple clothing gazes calmly at her surroundings. Her presence feels both rooted and contemplative—an emblem of strength and stillness.
To the right of the house, an early black automobile—a striking and rare addition in Coffin’s body of work—sits beside a loyal farm dog, its posture alert but relaxed. This subtle inclusion of technology, juxtaposed with traditional rural life, adds depth and historical resonance. A wooden barn peeks out behind the house, while fields of dried grass and trees in rich shades of amber and gold stretch into the distance.
Coffin’s brushwork is deliberate, his palette warm and reflective, capturing the quiet dignity of an ordinary moment suspended in time. The composition feels both intimate and expansive, inviting viewers to step into a world where change and tradition coexist on the same sunlit afternoon.
This piece is not just a painting—it’s a memory preserved, a moment between seasons, and a testament to Coffin’s sensitivity in portraying the evolving American landscape.
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