Santa Monica, Malibu

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Santa Monica, Malibu

United States, 1933
Drawings
Graphite on drawing board
Sheet: 28 3/4 × 22 1/2 in. (73.03 × 57.15 cm) Image: 20 × 19 in. (50.8 × 48.26 cm)
Gift of the Estate of Linfa R. Wright (M.2001.160.3)
Not currently on public view

Label

From the exhibition Stanton Macdonald-Wright and His Circle at LACMA January 29-May 28, 2003 ...
From the exhibition Stanton Macdonald-Wright and His Circle at LACMA January 29-May 28, 2003 Macdonald-Wright completed his drawings in an intentionally Asian-inspired manner, with broad spatial sections forming the overall compositions, subtly articulated details, and atmospheric transitions of light and shadow. Macdonald-Wright described this approach to his drawings, which depict California landscapes almost exclusively: “I have attempted to transliterate the image from the objective world into the realm of the abstract approach. They represent in some degree the encroachment of classical Occidentalism on the pattern of Oriental conception. Artistically they suggest nothing more than the sensitive placement of tone.” The effect of his artistic method is that the celebrated California landscape becomes unfamiliar in its appearance, imbued with an aura of enigma and fantasy.
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