High Country Valley 

Eyvind Earle’s “High Country Valley” uses vibrant colors and bold forms to depict a stylized landscape. One is struck by how Earle reduces natural forms to graphic shapes, almost like stage sets, a common mid-century technique. This piece reflects a cultural moment in mid-20th century America, one in which there was a widespread desire to simplify design and bring nature into domestic environments, but on controlled terms. Earle’s training in the Disney animation studios is apparent here. The flowing lines and rich colors evoke a sense of idealized natural beauty, which is both modern and somehow medieval. The limited palette and flattened space draw upon the history of decorative arts and illustration, while referencing the landscapes of California, where Earle spent much of his life. To truly appreciate “High Country Valley,” one might consult histories of mid-century design, animation, and the California art scene. It reminds us that art is always embedded in a specific place and time.