Maine Coast 1940

Ivan Albright, sometime in the 20th century, takes us to the Maine Coast with paint on canvas. Look at the dark rocks against the teal sea. You can almost feel the spray on your face, right? I imagine Albright, braving the wind and the damp, trying to capture the raw energy of the ocean. The brushstrokes are short and choppy, mirroring the water's surface. There's a real physicality to it. What was Albright thinking about as he built up those layers of color? Was he wrestling with the sublime power of nature, or just trying to nail that perfect shade of sea-green? Maybe a bit of both? There are echoes of Winslow Homer here, but with a bit more darkness. Painting, like the ocean, is always in motion. Each artist responds to what came before, and the conversation keeps flowing. Albright’s painting is one version of seeing, feeling and translating experience into something new. Like a philosopher, through his observation, experimentation, and reflection, he is seeking to understand himself and the world around him.