The Day before Christmas, 1919 (oil on canvas)

In 1898 Edward Redfield purchased land along the Delaware River in Center Bridge, making him one of the first artists associated with Pennsylvania Impressionism to establish residence in the area. A self-reliant Quaker, he grew his own crops, collected water from a nearby well, and built furniture from driftwood. He described Bucks County as “a place where an independent, self-sufficient man could make a living from the land, bring up a family and still have the freedom to paint as he saw fit.” Redfield is best remembered for his vigorous depictions of snow-bound landscapes, including this festive scene of his farmhouse along the towpath at Center Bridge.