What Makes a Landscape Feel Timeless
When I think about landscape paintings that are classic and stand the test of time I think of ones that have unique and impactful compositions, a masterful use of color, and ones that relay a mood and/or feeling to the viewer that is understood by people beyond that time and place. Since I began painting landscapes almost exclusively I find myself drawn to ones that fit these parameters when I’m visiting an art museum or browsing one of my art books. The examples I included below are ones that intrigued me and that I thought would represent this idea well.
In the painting “Wheat Fields” by Jacob van Ruisdael the composition is split in half between landscape and sky. The artist depicted figures walking a path towards a grove of trees, and above is a stunning arrangement of fluffy white clouds and blue sky. The light in the piece accurately depicts the way the sunlight would filter through a cloudy sky like that. You can see the shadows on the earth below where the clouds are hanging overhead. On top of the light and shadow the colors in this piece also transmit a calm and peaceful mood. This painting is able to be admired even 350 years later partially because of all these points.
I wanted to include “Evening: Landscape with an Aqueduct” by Theodore Gericault in this collection because when I saw it I was struck by the dynamic lights and shadows as well as the beautiful range of colors in this piece. The composition of this painting leads the viewer’s eyes from the vine covered building in the foreground, and snaking through the water in the middle, to the aqueduct, buildings and then the mountain range in the background. Even though this specific location is not a familiar one to my life and experience I appreciate the way the artist has created an intriguing painting with so much to interest me visually.
Caspar David Friedrich’s landscapes have always appealed to me, but when I was looking for one to feature, the one titled “Two Men Contemplating the Moon” jumped out to me because of the unique composition, the lovely color scheme, and the mood it communicates. I really enjoy the way the tree crosses the painting towards the right, while another lines the left edge of the painting and ends up enfolding the figures and the moon within the middle of the painting. Being able to depict a moment that people can appreciate no matter their timeline at the same time as creating a piece that delights the eye is masterful.
As an artist living in the Philadelphia area who has painted scenes inspired by the Schuylkill River I thought including this piece, titled “The Champion Single Sculls” by Thomas Eakins was appropriate because the rowers who use the river for their sport for the majority of each year are a common site through the years, and this painting captures not only the sportsman the artist aimed to feature but also the iconic bridges and landscape of this part of the Schuykill River.
The “Arques-La-Bataille” painting caught my eye because of the way it initially appears to be split into four horizontal sections, but then the grass shoots up, dividing half of the piece and giving some more visual interest. I also enjoy the moody, misty color scheme the artist used. It creates a dreamlike feeling that relaxes me as I peruse it further.
In “Celia Thaxters’s Garden” we get a painting that beautifully captures a meadow of flowers overlooking a seascape. The abundance of vibrantly joyful colors is appealing, and being able to also see the lovingly rendered oceanscape is a plus. I think anyone who enjoys floral paintings will enjoy this piece for its painterly touch and dynamic color palette, creating a lovely experience for the viewer.
I have appreciated Andrew Wyeth’s art for years and knew I wanted to include one of his paintings in this post. I chose this one, titled “On the Edge” because I was entranced by the figure peering over her shoulder towards the ocean beyond a cliff’s edge. The color palette is light, creating an almost dreamlike experience. The only exception is her coat, which is a dark form in the middle of the piece. It allows my eye to have something to focus on and then travel around the piece to the other areas. I enjoy the introspective mood this painting creates.
All of these pieces are memorable and stunning in their own ways. From focusing on color, mood, or eye-catching locations each of them have something that would appeal to viewers across the years regardless of their location. This is something I also aim for when working on a new piece and collection, and I hope the viewer is similarly intrigued and drawn in to my paintings as I was to these for those characteristics.