The Breakup 

Editor: Here we have an oil painting, landscape style, that may not have a confirmed date but is by Sydney Laurence; it’s entitled, “The Breakup.” I’m really drawn to the almost monochromatic feel of the blues and whites – it creates such a sense of icy stillness. What stands out to you when you look at this piece? Curator: You know, it's funny you mention stillness, because I see the opposite! I feel the painting pulses with hidden energy, that feeling of spring just about to burst. Do you see how the water isn’t completely frozen over? The promise of thaw hangs in the air. Sydney Laurence really captures that delicate balance, doesn't he? Almost like a metaphor, eh? Editor: A metaphor? In what sense? Curator: Well, a breakup suggests endings, yes? But Laurence isn't just showing us an ending—the end of winter. He's also whispering about beginnings. It reminds me of staring up at those same peaks on a long solitary walk. He isn’t afraid of the somber hues, is he? He uses them to evoke this almost haunting serenity. Do you think he captured the sublime in landscape or perhaps the crushing loneliness? What mood did the tones speak to for you, most truthfully? Editor: I hadn’t considered it that way, that maybe the thaw can coexist with this icy, somber landscape. I appreciate you prompting me to notice the light reflecting off the water because it is, actually, quite hopeful! It really does feel like a moment on the cusp. I also appreciate the romantic feeling from his unique technique of showing that emotion and conveying depth in this image. Curator: That's the thing about art, isn't it? The painting itself can be still but it shifts and flows with our own reflections, revealing all the emotional layers beneath. I will remember my experience of feeling Laurence's perspective of Alaska’s promise and how he may have painted this breakup from his own, vulnerable heart. Thanks!