The Beothic at Bache Post, Ellesmere Island 1928

A.Y. Jackson painted this scene of the Beothic at Bache Post on Ellesmere Island, and he really leaned into a limited palette of rusty reds and ochres. The whole painting feels a bit like a memory, or maybe a dream. There’s something about the way Jackson builds up the paint, not quite thick, but definitely present. You can see the marks he made, especially in the foreground, like little waves of paint. These marks gives the painting a real sense of movement. Then you have those icebergs, chunky and solid, but also kind of melting into the water. They’re defined by firm outlines, but the surface is mottled with different tones, that almost reminds me of Joan Mitchell, who also knew how to balance observation and expression. Ultimately, what I love about this painting is how it captures the stark beauty of the Arctic, but also leaves room for our imagination to fill in the blanks.