Zion

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on October 28, 2015 at 11:34am

Curator’s Comments:  

 

I find Zion to be a particularly engaging in its reliance on quiet strength rather than multiple geographic inclusions or phenomena in the landscape to convey its drama.  Absent of water features such as waterfalls present in many of the other paintings, the viewer is confronted with the sheer mass of the mountainous land.  The atmospheric qualities convey amazing depth despite the predominantly warm color scheme. The small pool of water in the bottom center of the picture creates an interesting visual stage.  But instead of presenting us with a magnificent reflection as might be expected in the most idealized depiction of the site, the water presents a small physical barrier and instead increases emphasis on the rocky cliffs.  This slightly understated presentation communicates the idea that the land itself needs no further display of life; birds, animals or bridges, to convey its marvel.