A Sounding of Surf 1995

Eyvind Earle created this arresting image, "A Sounding of Surf," with serigraphic paint to capture the awe-inspiring power of the ocean. Here, color and line converge, and a monochromatic palette is used to dramatic effect, the gradation of blues offering a perspective that leads the eye from the foreground wave to the distant, muted horizon. The structure is built upon contrasts, not only between the dark, turbulent waters below and the cresting white wave, but also in the texture. The foam is almost explosive, a textural contrast to the tranquil sea beyond. Earle masterfully orchestrates depth using the interplay of color and the simplified forms of the landscape. He destabilizes traditional landscape painting with a sharp focus on surface and pattern. This is no mere representation of nature, but an active engagement with the visual structures that constitute our perception of it. The wave becomes a symbol, its formal qualities resonating far beyond the depiction of a seascape.