Big Sur Coastline 1989

Eyvind Earle made this vibrant landscape of the Big Sur coastline sometime in the 20th century, using a smooth, almost graphic style. It feels like a memory, flattened and heightened, you know? Look at the way the light glows in the center, the yellow against those blues. It's so simple but creates depth and drama. Those little flicks and dots that create the foliage are like an obsessive meditation. I imagine him, methodically building up the image one tiny mark at a time. I love that sense of the hand, the dedication. I’m reminded of Milton Avery, especially in the way Earle simplifies the landscape to its basic shapes and colors. It’s like he’s saying, "Here's what matters, this is what I felt." Art isn't about perfect representation, it’s about sharing a vision, a feeling, and Earle really nails that here.