Starry Night in Hawaii 

Zoe Mozert created this painting, Starry Night in Hawaii, using oil paints. This choice of material is significant, as oil paints are known for their ability to create luminous and atmospheric effects. Mozert skillfully employs layering techniques. The opaque paint creates a dreamlike rendering of a woman kneeling on the beach performing a hula. The material properties of oil paint have allowed Mozert to create a smooth surface with subtle gradations of color, giving the woman's figure a sense of depth. The work embodies a commercial aesthetic of the mid-twentieth century, reflecting a world of mass media and consumer culture. The amount of labor required to create such a painting also deserves consideration. Mozert, trained in academic techniques, would have spent hours carefully layering and blending the paints to achieve her desired effect, reflecting a broader historical tension between fine art and commercial illustration. By considering the materials and processes used in Starry Night in Hawaii, we gain a deeper understanding of its cultural significance.