'Green Roofs & Fields,' a watercolor on paper by Robert Newton Hurley, measures 9.5 x 13.3 inches, with the artist's signature gracing the bottom right. This work conveys the vast,...
"Green Roofs & Fields," a watercolor on paper by Robert Newton Hurley, measures 9.5 x 13.3 inches, with the artist's signature gracing the bottom right. This work conveys the vast, open landscapes of the prairies, characterized by Hurley's distinctive use of color and form.
The painting presents a rural setting where the verdant green of the fields is partitioned by winding paths and stands in striking contrast to the muted grey of the sky. This juxtaposition of color highlights the fecundity of the land against the overcast weather, a reminder of the cycles of growth and dormancy inherent to the prairies.
Characteristic of Hurley's style, the grain elevators and farm buildings are simplified into geometric shapes, with their green roofs mirroring the fields below. This creates a harmony between man-made structures and the natural environment, suggesting a symbiotic relationship.
The telephone poles line the road, drawing the viewer's eye toward the horizon and providing a sense of depth and perspective. The poles' repetitive form creates a rhythm across the painting, echoing the rural landscape's enduring stability.
Above, the sweeping brushstrokes of the sky imply movement, perhaps the rolling in of weather that is so typical of prairie skies. Hurley's watercolor encapsulates the vastness and quiet beauty of the prairies, a celebration of the landscape's simple yet profound aesthetic.