What Lies Within Us 2021

Mark Maggiori created “What Lies Within Us,” a painting that uses oil to capture a vivid forest scene under a dusky sky. The use of color is immediately striking: the golden leaves of the aspen trees contrast sharply against the deep blues and greens of the shadowed undergrowth. The composition is dominated by vertical lines, which are formed by the closely packed tree trunks. This creates a sense of depth and invites the viewer's eye to move upward, almost mimicking the natural growth of the trees themselves. Maggiori uses these structural elements to explore themes of nature and humanity. The two figures on horseback, cloaked in white, are dwarfed by the landscape, which suggests the immensity and power of nature, dwarfing human presence. The interplay between light and shadow, and the textures of the leaves and bark, function semiotically, hinting at the layers of meaning embedded within the natural world. While seemingly representational, the painting's intense colors and compositional choices create a space where nature isn't just observed but deeply felt, inviting us to consider our own place within its vastness.