Noon above Newburgh

"Noon above Newburgh," painted in 1916, invites us to experience the tranquility of a peaceful landscape. Gifford Beal, the artist, masterfully captures the soft glow of midday light in this watercolor piece, currently housed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. nn Notice how the water in the foreground shimmers with life. Beal uses a variety of blues, greens, and even purples, and his brushstrokes, visible upon closer inspection, beautifully mimic the ripples and reflections of the water's surface. nn In the distance, two hills rise gently against the sky. Their muted blue and green tones suggest a comfortable distance, adding to the overall sense of peacefulness that permeates the scene. Above it all, the sky stretches across the upper half of the painting, awash in pale blues and pinks that evoke the soft, diffused light of noontime. nn "Noon above Newburgh" is more than just a landscape; it's a captured moment of serenity. Beal invites us to pause, to breathe deeply, and to lose ourselves in the quiet beauty of the natural world.