Nerke, Greenland 1930

Lawren Harris painted ‘Nerke, Greenland’ with what seems like a restricted palette and a love for simplification. See how the paint is applied in these flat, deliberate areas of colour? The dark, jagged mountains push against the smooth, rolling clouds above. I love the way Harris uses thick paint to sculpt the icy landscape, giving it a real, tangible presence. Notice the small icebergs, each rendered with crisp, geometric shapes. It’s like he’s trying to capture the very essence of these monumental forms with as few marks as possible. There’s a stillness here, but it’s not passive. It’s a quiet, powerful energy, much like the work of Agnes Martin. Both artists share a knack for finding the sublime in simplicity. And just like Martin, Harris reminds us that sometimes, less really is more.