The Ice Hole 1908

Marsden Hartley created this painting, The Ice Hole, using oil paint. He builds up this landscape with individual dabs and jabs of paint. It's so easy to imagine him at the easel, working through the image, one tiny mark at a time, like the world was built by atoms colliding. The whole surface is alive with texture. It's so thick you could almost run your fingers across it. I'm drawn to the way the blue of the ice contrasts with the orange and pink of the clouds. See how the light dances on the surface of the snow? The ice itself is a dark shape that feels both ominous and inviting. The expressionistic approach reminds me of Van Gogh, another artist who wasn't afraid to put his feelings right out there on the canvas. Ultimately, this piece is a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation and that the best art leaves room for our own interpretations.