Description

Mary Ann by P. Buckley Moss

In 1983, Mary Ann was released as a Limited Edition, Lithograph, Numbered Edition and is a Rare offering from the beloved P. Buckley Moss One Girl Collection and the P. Buckley Moss Girl Name Collection. This timeless portrait captures a young Amish girl holding a slender fishing rod, her posture gentle and introspective. With its minimalist background and delicate detailing, Mary Ann embodies the quiet innocence and simplicity that define P. Buckley Moss’s early collectible works.

Content & Subject

Mary Ann presents a solitary young girl standing barefoot, dressed in traditional Amish attire. She wears a soft gray dress layered over a light blouse with puffed sleeves, and a simple black bonnet frames her youthful face. Her head is slightly turned, her gaze directed downward with a thoughtful expression that suggests quiet reflection.

The fishing rod she holds stretches delicately across the composition, adding a subtle narrative element. Rather than depicting action, Moss captures a pause—a moment suspended between thought and movement. The minimal background allows full attention to rest on the figure, enhancing the emotional depth of Mary Ann.

As part of the P. Buckley Moss One Girl Collection and the P. Buckley Moss Girl Name Collection, this piece exemplifies Moss’s celebrated ability to portray children with dignity, gentleness, and emotional nuance. The simplicity of the setting emphasizes character and feeling over environment, a hallmark of her early 1980s works.

Style & Technique

Created as a finely detailed lithograph, Mary Ann showcases the delicate linework and soft tonal washes that distinguish P. Buckley Moss’s signature style. The muted grayscale palette, accented by the warmth of the girl’s hair and skin tones, creates subtle contrast while maintaining harmony.

The lithographic process preserves the fine pen lines outlining the bonnet, sleeves, and fishing rod. Gentle shading within the folds of the dress adds depth without overwhelming the composition. As a Limited Edition Numbered Lithograph, this rare 1983 release reflects Moss’s early mastery of balanced composition and emotional restraint.

Collectors often seek early lithographs from the 1980s because they capture the foundational aesthetic that established Moss as a beloved American artist. Mary Ann stands as a graceful example of that era.

Mood & Inspiration

The mood of Mary Ann is contemplative, serene, and quietly nostalgic. The girl’s downward glance evokes introspection, innocence, and the unhurried pace of rural life. Moss frequently drew inspiration from Amish communities and the values of simplicity, humility, and tradition.

In Mary Ann, the act of fishing becomes symbolic rather than literal. It suggests patience, quiet waiting, and a connection to nature. The absence of a detailed landscape invites viewers to imagine the surrounding environment, allowing the emotional focus to remain on the young girl.

This Rare edition holds special appeal for collectors who appreciate early works that emphasize character-driven storytelling. Mary Ann offers a gentle reminder of childhood innocence and the beauty found in life’s simplest moments.

Placement & Gift Ideas

Mary Ann makes a meaningful addition to a living room, bedroom, hallway, study, or nursery. Its neutral palette allows it to blend seamlessly into farmhouse, traditional, and classic interiors. Because of its intimate scale and subject, it also works beautifully in smaller gallery arrangements featuring pieces from the P. Buckley Moss One Girl Collection.

As a gift, this artwork is especially thoughtful for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, housewarmings, or for longtime collectors of P. Buckley Moss. Those building a name-themed collection from the P. Buckley Moss Girl Name Collection will find Mary Ann a particularly treasured addition.

Add Mary Ann to your collection and celebrate the enduring charm of P. Buckley Moss’s early Rare lithographs.

Includes a Certificate of Authenticity. (see FAQs)

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🌾 Fun Fact:
Many of P. Buckley Moss’s early 1980s works focused on individual children’s names, creating highly collectible pieces that allowed families to connect personally with her art.

🌿 Collector’s Insight:
Early Rare lithographs like Mary Ann are especially desirable among long-time collectors because they represent the foundational years of Moss’s career and often become increasingly difficult to acquire in excellent condition.

1983

Image Size: 5-1/2 x 4 inches. Paper Size: 10 x 8 inches.

🎁 Available through Canada Goose Gallery in Waynesville, Ohio — your trusted source for the art of P. Buckley Moss.