Crawling Light 

Logan Maxwell Hagege created ‘Crawling Light’ as a modern take on the landscapes of the American Southwest. The artist blends a traditional subject with a contemporary style, inviting us to consider how landscapes can be both familiar and new. The painting’s simplified forms and warm color palette evoke the iconic imagery of the West. ‘Crawling Light’ can be read in terms of the cultural and economic factors that shape our perception of landscape. From the early 20th century, the American West was promoted through art and advertising, which romanticized the region and its people. Hagege’s style, which echoes the aesthetics of commercial art, invites us to consider the ways in which the art market promotes certain images of the American West. Historical research, considering the influence of early advertising and the development of tourism in the Southwest, can reveal the powerful role of art in shaping our understanding of geography and culture.