Thermal 1960

Curator: Peter Lanyon’s large-scale canvas, titled "Thermal," presents an intriguing interplay of blues and whites. I'm struck by its scale and the visible brushwork—it feels quite visceral. Editor: The raw application of paint definitely conveys a sense of process. I wonder what the social climate was like when Lanyon created this work, and how it influenced his choice of materials. Curator: Well, Lanyon was deeply connected to the Cornish landscape. We know his engagement with gliding significantly influenced his artistic perspective. Editor: Gliding, yes, that makes sense! It's as if we're seeing the landscape from above, translated into gestural marks. I suppose the materiality of the pigment is key to this interpretation, no? The way it moves across the support, thick in some places, thin in others. Curator: Precisely. And the absence of clear representational forms suggests a focus on pure sensation and experience, moving beyond traditional landscape painting. Editor: Seeing it this way gives me a new appreciation. Considering the social context of post-war Britain, this move toward abstraction also speaks to a broader shift away from traditional modes of representation. Curator: Indeed, and his process here seems deeply embedded within the socio-political transformations of the time. Editor: Thank you; I will keep those concepts in mind when viewing and discussing the artwork from now on.