Alen MacWeeney

Irish, b. 1939

Bare Trees, Mayo, 1994
Inkjet print

While photographer Alen MacWeeney has traveled the world photographing landscapes, people, and cities, it is his home country of Ireland that he continually returns to in his work. He initially started photographing the Irish landscape to depict “the Ireland of his imagination” and portray the spirit of the country as he sees it. This cluster of rowan trees, a species native to Ireland, stands against a cloudy landscape, with craggy hills that disappear in the fog. For MacWeeney, “the truly mysterious and impossible charm of Ireland rests in its ever-changing light, clouds, and a glimpse of understanding life.”

Gift of David Geiger in honor of the Museum’s 75th anniversary, 2019

Visual Description: This is a photograph of a cluster of trees in the Irish countryside, measuring roughly 2 feet tall and 1 foot wide. The branches of the trees are bare, and their bark is a light khaki color with splotches of white. Behind them is a light blue body of water, set against a craggy hill amidst fog.