Fir Trees in the Glen 

Joseph Farquharson created "Fir Trees in the Glen" using oil on canvas. Immediately, you’re drawn into the somber yet inviting scene, shaped by the contrasting play of light and shadow. The vertical thrust of the fir trees creates a visual rhythm that guides the eye upward, even as the dense foliage obscures any clear horizon line. Farquharson employs a nuanced palette here. The dark greens and browns of the trees and undergrowth are punctuated by subtle gradations of light, creating a sense of depth and volume. This interplay is not merely decorative; it’s structural. Consider how the painting teeters between representation and abstraction. While the subject is clearly a landscape, the emphasis on tonal values and compositional arrangements invites us to see the painting as an exercise in form. The artist uses the glen as a pretext to study the visual properties of light and shadow, line and mass. The painting serves as a space for exploration, prompting viewers to question fixed perspectives and engage with the fluctuating nature of perception.