Land in Layers

A striking mid-century abstract landscape painting depicting a tranquil coastal scene, where stretches of open land meet the still waters of a distant shoreline, executed in oil onto canvas and dated 1956.

The composition is defined by broad, expressive passages of colour, with dark, irregular shapes suggesting tidal pools, marshland and shifting reflections across the foreground. Small architectural or harbour-like forms punctuate the horizon, lending a subtle sense of scale and depth to the expansive landscape.

Executed in a bold, modernist style, the painting balances abstraction with recognisable elements of the natural world. A harmonious palette of powder blue, sage green, muted turquoise and sandy yellow is contrasted with deep charcoal, earthy burgundy and soft lavender-grey. The artist employs confident, sweeping brushstrokes and richly textured applications of paint, alternating between broad, flat areas of colour and energetic, gestural marks. The simplified forms and expressive handling of paint create a wonderful sense of atmosphere, movement and spontaneity.

This oil on canvas is presented in an off-white wooden frame with warm gilt-toned inner detailing, beautifully complementing the artwork’s understated colours. The painting is in excellent vintage condition, and the frame has minor scuffs.

Size: 55.5 x 60.5 cm (including frame)