Label Text:
Among the largest watercolors Haskell ever produced, Point Lobos Rock typifies his final style of exploration in the medium. The subject is the scenic coast of Monterey, California, now a nature reserve. While creating this image on-site, Haskell chose not to paint over an underdrawing; rather, he conceived of the scene as a pattern of warm and cool areas and methodically wove the image together with touches of color. Since this dense paper is semi-absorbent, it retains Haskell’s brushstrokes with remarkable clarity.
This watercolor is more closely related to Haskell’s previous work with a burin than with a brush. His studied accumulation of strokes more closely resembles the gouged “flicks” of his engravings than the gentle, controlled washes of his liquid graphite drawings. Hard-edged planes describe the sun-baked hills, and spade-shaped brushstrokes form the distant foliage. By translating black-and-white tone into brilliant hues, Haskell’s last works reveal a trend toward aesthetic synthesis and personalized vision.
KG, How He Was to His Talents exhibition, March 24, 2011-August 7, 2011
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=AC+1996.170 |
