Storm Wave 1939 - 1940

Marsden Hartley made this painting of a Storm Wave in thick oil paint. You can really see the energy of the wave crashing against the rocks, captured in these visible brushstrokes. The materiality of the paint is so key here; it's almost sculptural, giving a real sense of the raw, untamed power of nature. Hartley isn't trying to hide the process; he's embracing it. It’s not just about depicting a wave, it’s about the act of painting itself. Look at the way he's layered the whites and greys to create the foam, it's almost like he’s wrestling with the paint. Then you notice the dark, almost violent strokes defining the rocks, each mark loaded with intent. Hartley had a deep connection with nature, and you can see that in the way he handles the paint, it's like he's channeling the spirit of the storm. This painting reminds me of some of Guston’s later work – that same honesty and directness. Art’s an ongoing conversation, right?