.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
“Note that Half Dome, the dramatic mountain in Yosemite Park, has the same conical shape as an ice cream cone or a meringue pie. There is a constant luxuriating in paint. As he sweeps from the intimacy of a still life to the grandeur of landscape, Thiebaud adheres to the idea that art exists for the sake of paint.”
Mark Rosenthal, ‘Reflecting on the coordinates of Wayne Thiebaud’s art’ in Wayne Thiebaud, Alan Stone Projects, New York, 2016, p. 7.
Mound and Cloud is an exquisite example of Wayne Thiebaud’s mastery of his art, of his medium, and his use of composition and color. The bright bold hue of the painting’s ground superbly frames the rounded forms of the mountain and its counterpart, the cloud. Darker tones of yellow, blue, green and orange come together to define the shape of the cloud, forming a shadow which enhances the illusion of three dimensional form and perspective. As a result the cloud appears substantial, hovering above the implied curve of the white-tipped mountain top, a deep blue form placed against the flat backdrop of the bright sky.
Although not a specific place, the range in Mound and Cloud does evoke the spirit of the American West, Rosenthal claims. “Note that Half Dome, the dramatic mountain in Yosemite Park, has the same conical shape as an ice cream cone or a meringue pie. There is a constant luxuriating in paint. As he sweeps from the intimacy of a still life to the grandeur of landscape, Thiebaud adheres to the idea that art exists for the sake of paint” (M. Rosenthal, “Reflecting on the coordinates of Wayne Thiebaud’s art” in Wayne Thiebaud, exh. cat., Alan Stone Projects, New York, 2016, p. 7). Whilst well known for his famed renderings of cakes and candies, Thiebaud’s career also explored this timeless subject of landscape. Mound and Cloud exemplifies his careful consideration of composition, of the formal elements that define each work.
Mark Rosenthal, ‘Reflecting on the coordinates of Wayne Thiebaud’s art’ in Wayne Thiebaud, Alan Stone Projects, New York, 2016, p. 7.
Mound and Cloud is an exquisite example of Wayne Thiebaud’s mastery of his art, of his medium, and his use of composition and color. The bright bold hue of the painting’s ground superbly frames the rounded forms of the mountain and its counterpart, the cloud. Darker tones of yellow, blue, green and orange come together to define the shape of the cloud, forming a shadow which enhances the illusion of three dimensional form and perspective. As a result the cloud appears substantial, hovering above the implied curve of the white-tipped mountain top, a deep blue form placed against the flat backdrop of the bright sky.
Although not a specific place, the range in Mound and Cloud does evoke the spirit of the American West, Rosenthal claims. “Note that Half Dome, the dramatic mountain in Yosemite Park, has the same conical shape as an ice cream cone or a meringue pie. There is a constant luxuriating in paint. As he sweeps from the intimacy of a still life to the grandeur of landscape, Thiebaud adheres to the idea that art exists for the sake of paint” (M. Rosenthal, “Reflecting on the coordinates of Wayne Thiebaud’s art” in Wayne Thiebaud, exh. cat., Alan Stone Projects, New York, 2016, p. 7). Whilst well known for his famed renderings of cakes and candies, Thiebaud’s career also explored this timeless subject of landscape. Mound and Cloud exemplifies his careful consideration of composition, of the formal elements that define each work.