Large Harvest Field and Woods near Happisburgh, Norfolk 1984

Curator: The stillness in this Norfolk landscape by Colin Self is almost unnerving, like holding your breath, isn't it? Editor: Yes, there’s a real tension here. I find myself wondering about the colonial implications of landscape art. Whose land are we really seeing? Curator: That's a valid perspective. This work, titled "Large Harvest Field and Woods near Happisburgh," is about 91 by 141 centimeters. The scale gives it a subtle power. Editor: Scale is important. I’m also struck by the color palette. That muted yellow and almost oppressive sky… it feels like a premonition. Curator: Absolutely. It's more than just a field; it's a mood, a state of mind perhaps. Self’s landscapes often explored anxieties around ecological and social issues. Editor: Right. This piece really begs us to question the relationship between land, labor, and ownership. Who benefits from this harvest? Curator: A painting like this, it invites a constant renegotiation of our place in the world. Editor: And an urgent examination of what we choose to ignore.