Lake Harriman Park #2 1915

John Marin created "Lake Harriman Park #2" using watercolor and graphite on paper. Marin, working in the early 20th century, captured American landscapes with a distinct modernist vision. Marin's work exists within a time of shifting perceptions about nature and progress. Lake Harriman Park, like many parks, was designed as a refuge from urban life, yet its existence is also a testament to industrial development and its impact on the environment. In his landscapes, Marin often explored the tension between nature's serenity and the dynamism of modern life, reflecting a broader societal negotiation with industrialization. What does it mean to find peace in a space that is both natural and constructed? "My aim is to 'catch' an object, element, or mood," Marin once said, revealing his desire to capture fleeting moments. His landscapes are not just visual records but emotional responses to the world around him, inviting us to reflect on our own relationships with nature.