Quiet Pasture 

Eyvind Earle painted ‘Quiet Pasture’ in the mid to late twentieth century, using tempera to create sharp lines and contrasting tones. It embodies a nostalgic return to nature, reflecting the environmental awareness that gained prominence in postwar America. Earle's stylized landscape, with its long shadows and repetitive patterns, evokes the commercial art of calendar illustrations, popular at the time. Yet, its flattened perspective and decorative approach also hint at the influence of Asian art. ‘Quiet Pasture’ reflects both a longing for the simplicity of nature, and the visual vocabulary of mass media. As a cultural historian, I’m interested in the public role of art and how it reflects the values of its time. To understand Earle's work more fully, it would be helpful to examine other examples of landscape painting and commercial art from this period. This would help us to appreciate the complex ways in which art can both celebrate and critique its cultural context.