Marsden Hartley Highlight

Marsden Hartley was an American artist born in Lewiston, Maine in 1877, who lived and worked during the first half of the 20th century. He was a prolific painter and a skilled writer, and his works are celebrated for their unique style and bold use of color. Hartley’s art is often described as a blend of various styles, including Expressionism, Cubism, and Abstraction. His life was marked by both personal and professional struggles, including the loss of several loved ones, financial difficulties, and a sense of isolation from the art world of his time.

One of the defining aspects of Hartley’s work is his use of color. He often employed bold, vibrant hues, such as bright yellows, deep blues, and fiery oranges, which he used to create works that were full of energy and vitality. This is especially evident in his paintings of the landscape, which he created during his time in New Mexico and the Southwest. These works are characterized by their bright colors and intense, almost surrealistic quality. Hartley’s use of color is perhaps best seen in his iconic “Berlin” paintings, which he created in the years leading up to World War I while living in Germany. These paintings, which depict the city of Berlin in abstract, geometric forms, are some of his most famous and have been praised for their bold use of color and form.

Hartley was also known for his ability to blend various styles in his work. He was influenced by the work of artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso, and Henri Matisse, and incorporated elements of Expressionism, Cubism, and Abstraction into his own art. This can be seen in his Berlin paintings, which blend elements of Cubism with Expressionism and Abstraction to create works that are at once dynamic and highly structured. Similarly, his landscapes from New Mexico and the Southwest incorporate elements of Expressionism with the natural forms of the landscape to create works that are both abstract and representational.

Despite his talent as an artist, Hartley struggled with financial and personal difficulties throughout his life. He lost several loved ones, including his brother and a close friend, and this loss is evident in some of his works, which have a melancholic or mournful quality. Additionally, he struggled with his sexuality, which was considered taboo during his time. This led to a sense of isolation from the art world, as well as difficulties in forming lasting relationships. Hartley’s experiences are reflected in his art, which often contains a sense of longing or isolation.

Despite these challenges, Hartley continued to create art throughout his life. He also became a skilled writer, publishing essays and poetry that explored his ideas about art and life. His writing often reflected his interest in spirituality and the natural world and was deeply influenced by his travels and experiences.

Today, Hartley’s work is celebrated for its unique style and bold use of color. His Berlin paintings in particular have become iconic, and are considered some of the most important works of American modernism. His landscapes from New Mexico and the Southwest are also highly regarded for their dynamic, almost mystical quality.

Hartley’s art continues to inspire and influence artists today, and his legacy as an innovator and pioneer in the field of modern art is secure.

To wrap things up, Marsden Hartley was a talented and innovative artist whose work continues to be celebrated for its unique style and bold use of color. His art blended various styles, including Expressionism, Cubism, and Abstraction, and often contained a sense of longing or isolation. Despite personal and professional struggles throughout his life, he continued to create art and became a skilled writer. Today, his work is considered a key part of American modernism and his legacy as an important figure in the history of