Edgar Alwin Payne, Canyon de Chelly , specific date unknown, ca. before 1947 Nature falls into the happy rhythm of human steps in this beautifully romanticized oil painting by Edgar Alwin Payne. The cliffs provide the wanderers a pleasant shade, while the clouds shine benevolently in the sky. The shadows in the background are like children peeking around corners to see what the grown-ups are doing. The way the light rakes across the rock face, it makes the cliffs appear to be follow the wayfarers around the curve of the valley. The way the rocks sink back into themselves counters this forward rhythm and creates the impression that they are reluctantly curious about the horsemen. The clouds overhead seem less connected to the wanderers but are playful with each other. Continuing the horizontal rhythm of the rock walls, the clouds have a peculiar shape that draws one in to wonder what Payne was trying to communicate. Though the clouds s...

My mistake for not checking more often for new pieces! Something caught my eye about the dancers, and I couldn't figure out what it was until I stepped back about 15' from the computer and saw that the figures themselves are the source of illumination--unusual, and effective. The man is more detailed than the woman, although he's at more distance. Intentional? There's nice tension from the fact that each is moving in one direction but facing another. Thanks for sharing, JS
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