These four  stamps celebrate the beauty and history of American barns. The artist created digital paintings of four types of iconic barns found in the rural American landscape. With differing qualities of light and color, each piece reflects one of the four seasons:

•    A round barn surrounded by the hazy light and warm colors of fall;
•    A gambrel-roofed barn in summer;
•    A forebay barn in an early spring countryside; and
•    A Western barn on a winter’s night.

There is something about barns that appeals to almost everyone, evoking nostalgia for a lost way of life, in even the most devoted city dweller. Barns have deep roots in American culture, reflecting the heritage of generations who worked the land. The construction of many older barns required individuals with the skills to lay the foundation, cut the timers, raise the frame, and sheath and roof the structures. Built to last, these historic farm buildings still dot our rural landscape.

There are ongoing efforts today to preserve barns in America, from national and state organizations to local groups working to save specific buildings.