Slow Down 1969

Arthur Sarnoff painted 'Slow Down,' sometime in the mid-twentieth century, probably with oils on canvas, it’s got that kind of sheen. The approach to color here is interesting, a kind of hyper-real take on Americana with its saccharine but vivid tones. There’s a definite process at play in the application of the paint. If you look closely at the texture on the road surface, there are clear, deliberate brushstrokes, and the overall impression is smooth, almost polished. It’s tempting to read this polish as a metaphor for the shiny, happy, wholesome world the artist is portraying. The colors are so saturated, like a memory you can almost taste. I think I see a little bit of Edward Hopper sneaking in through the back door of the composition. Sarnoff worked in illustration, and you can see how his style is both representational and also somewhat stylized. 'Slow Down' reminds me of Norman Rockwell, another artist who could conjure a whole world with a single image. Both artists offer us, not reality, but an idealized version of reality. It is a reminder that art invites multiple readings, and it's up to us to bring our own perspective.