Squall, Greenland 1937

Rockwell Kent made this striking image of Greenland with oil on canvas. I imagine he wanted to capture the stillness of the landscape before the storm. Look how the artist contrasts the immensity of nature with the insignificance of human presence. The mountain occupies most of the image, casting the sailboat into shadow. You can see the mountains are rendered in these rich earth tones, with striations of color running throughout. It’s almost topographical, echoing the way our memories carve into us. Kent’s squall and the single sailboat reminds me a bit of other landscape painters like Frederic Church, who were equally obsessed with light and drama. Isn't it funny how artists through time keep responding to each other, even without knowing it? They are all looking at the same thing, and trying to find their own way of making it sing.