Sebastopol Autumn — Fine Art

Sebastopol Autumn - 1961 opens on a field of warm brown and ochre tones. Hassel Smith worked in California during the abstract expressionist period. His paint handling leaves a visible surface built up in layers. The composition stays grounded and does not spread across the whole sheet.

A matte fine art print keeps the paint tones flat and stops glare from a lamp. A dark frame on a pale wall makes the brown tones sit forward. A light frame on a dark wall does the opposite.

In a dining room, the warm brown tones meet the wood of a table. From the doorway the broad colour field reads first. Standing closer, the small changes in the paint surface become clear. The wall above the sideboard holds the work at a calm height.