Pencil on paper. 11 x 18 1/4 in. Depicting the opposite bank from Black Mountain, Lake George, Tongue Mountain, Lake George is the third landscape pencil drawing from the Lay Family Collection. Often, Johnson’s landscapes were painted with great precision and meticulous attention to detail. This piece reflects his characteristic sweeping vistas, with slight but important variations in the greenery across the lake and strong lines depicting the face of the mountain, as the delicate lines of the lake provide a counterpoint. Johnson’s drawings served as preparatory studies for his paintings, helping him determine compositional and lighting details before beginning the final piece. Yet, many of Johnson’s drawings stand on their own as works of art in themselves, capturing the same level of fine detail and naturalism found in his paintings. Furthermore, some of Johnson’s sketches were reproduced as illustrations in books and magazines during his career. The drawing is in good condition with minor creases throughout.