Dead Calm North Greenland 1932

Rockwell Kent made this painting called, *Dead Calm North Greenland,* probably with oils, and from his imagination. Look at the way Kent layers color, building up these calm, horizontal bands of cloud and mountain to create a sense of depth. It's a process of accumulation, where each layer informs the next. There is a stillness to this piece; the water is like glass. The solitary figure in the kayak is dwarfed by the landscape but centered in the frame. Kent uses smooth brushstrokes and muted colors to evoke a sense of serenity and quiet contemplation. The deep blues and purples of the mountains reflect in the water, creating a mirror image that doubles the impact of the landscape. I'm reminded of the Hudson River School painters, like Frederic Church, but Kent's work has a more modern sensibility. Both shared a fascination with the sublime power of nature, but Kent brings a starker, more simplified vision to the canvas.