Oscar Bluemner
Sunset on the St. Lawrence belongs to a pivotal series of 18 works on paper that Oscar Bluemner created between February and April of 1927. This series exhibited at Alfred Stieglitz's Intimate Gallery in early 1928 under the title Suns, Moon, Etc.—Facts and Fancy—Strains or Moods, features deeply symbolic celestial orbs that Bluemner saw as representations of "God or the universal creative force."
Sunset on the St. Lawrence showcases how Bluemner transformed imagery into profound symbols of the conversion of matter into spirit. Concentric bands of color radiate from a central core, enveloping both natural and man-made forms, uniting opposing forces such as body and soul, life and death, ecstasy and terror, male and female, and yin and yang.
In this charming watercolor, Bluemner employs color to evoke and amplify mood. A vivid red sun radiates with bands of orange, purple, and pale green light, illuminating the early evening sky. The painting is both a tribute to the spiritual force of nature and a reflection on the universal dualities of existence. Bluemner sought to link emotions to specific colors, expressing a range of feelings in a single, powerful image. He associated red with power, vitality, and passion, blue with serenity, yellow with aggression, green with calm, and violet with unrest.
Have a great Sunday!
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