Waterfall 1974

Roger Brown made this 'Waterfall' painting with oil on canvas. Just look at that yellow sky, and how it meets the dark hills, it's like looking at a cartoon version of the sublime. The textures are built up with smooth gradations, giving the whole scene a glossy, almost unreal quality. The darks and lights make those little bushes practically glow. Each element feels carefully placed, almost artificial, as if Brown is building a landscape from memory. It's a really particular way of rendering space, so controlled and flat. You can almost imagine him, carefully layering the paint, one smooth stroke at a time. The lines on the river feel very considered, which makes the whole piece feel like a kind of memory. This feels almost Hockney-esque, recalling his stage design, but with a harder, midwestern edge. Art is like this, it's never really alone, it’s always talking to other artworks.