Aerial Series - Ploughed Fields, Maryland 1974

Jane Frank made "Aerial Series – Ploughed Fields, Maryland" with paint and mixed media. She built up tactile surfaces on canvas, resembling a bird’s-eye view of farmland. Frank coaxed a rich physicality from her materials. The paint is thick and textured, applied in layers to create a relief-like effect. This almost sculptural approach emphasizes the earthiness of the subject matter. Her methods were undoubtedly labor-intensive, requiring both physical effort and careful control. It’s a fitting translation of the agricultural work that shaped the landscape itself. Though a painting, its construction shares more with sculptural processes; Frank’s willingness to blur these boundaries elevates the everyday to the realm of fine art. By emphasizing materials, making, and context, we can fully appreciate the meaning of her artwork.