Troubled Waters
Oil on canvas
20 1/8 x 24 1/4 inches
Sensorium: Debussy's La Mer
Movement III, Conversation Between Wind and Waves
As La Mer comes to a decrescendo, the listener is party to a negotiation of sorts. The wind acts like a siren, beckoning the listener closer, varying its call until we can no longer withhold our attention. The waves push back, attempting to warn, even threaten, the listener away from danger.
We sense the immense power of these two forces that are larger, more complex, and more ancient than any of us could imagine. This dialogue existed long before we witnessed it and will continue long after we are gone. It’s both humbling and awe inspiring.
The colors are dark, but if we look and listen closely, we hear all kinds of hues within the palette. Inky blacks, foamy off-whites, emeralds, and chameleon-brown rocks all sing in chorus together. It feels like something is at stake, though we can’t quite work out just what.
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