Artwork Page for Marsh Landscape

Details / Information for Marsh Landscape

Marsh Landscape

c. 1930–35

Emil Nolde

(German, 1876–1956)
Culture
Germany, 20th century
Medium
watercolor on wove paper
Support
Japanese wove paper
Measurements
Sheet: 34 x 45.5 cm (13 3/8 x 17 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Dr. Paul J. Vignos Jr. 2011.125
Copyright
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
Not on view
Print

Description

Emil Nolde’s watercolors encapsulate the Expressionists’ quest for spontaneity and immediacy, and for painting by instinct rather than by adhering to traditional landscape structure. Throughout his life, Nolde made watercolors depicting the coast of the North Sea near his home. He used vivid colors to transform reality—evident in the three watercolors on view here—hoping to reveal nature’s power and magnetism. Working outdoors, Nolde considered his watercolors to be collaborations with nature: “I painted the white snow as it fell, and the finished or half-finished pictures lay around covered by the snow itself. . . . I loved to find nature collaborating in this way—a natural unity embracing the painter, his subject and the picture.”
A horizontally oriented watercolor painting depicts a marsh landscape under a saturated orange sky. In the upper half, a thick horizontal band of dark purple and black clouds cuts across the orange expanse. In the middle ground, small dark structures with red highlights sit on a vibrant green field. The lower half features irregular patches of muted brown and olive green defined by dark, flowing brushstrokes. The colors bleed into one another.

Marsh Landscape

c. 1930–35

Emil Nolde

(German, 1876–1956)
Germany, 20th century

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork