Reservoir 1999

Wayne Thiebaud’s large-scale canvas, titled "Reservoir", presents a bird's-eye view of an oval body of water contained within a geometric landscape. The reservoir, often seen as a symbol of life and abundance, here takes on an almost mystical quality, its pink hue evoking a dreamlike state. Consider the circle. Since ancient times, it has represented totality, the self, eternity. Think of the Ouroboros, the snake that consumes its own tail, a symbol of cyclical return. The reservoir here, while man-made, becomes a similar symbol. Its shape contains the landscape within it, reflecting a sense of wholeness. But also think of Narcissus gazing into the water, seeing only himself, or Ophelia floating lifelessly, claimed by the water. Water can nurture or destroy. In Thiebaud’s image, the serene surface masks these undercurrents. We are drawn to it, both invited and warned by the tranquil, almost unsettling symmetry of the scene. This is more than just a reservoir; it is a mirror reflecting our deepest selves back at us.