Description
Winter Coat – 17-1/8 x 22-3/4; Offset Paper; Edition Size 1250; $265.00 U.S.
“Three areas of my artistic philosophy have come together in this painting. For most
of my twenties and thirties, I was primarily an abstract painter. During that time, I acquired
a taste for large, simple shapes and the use of so-called empty space. Some of the oriental
artists and thinkers have shown us that empty space is not simply nothing; it has an important
presence. This is probably my primary motive in deciding to do this painting. The large white
rectangle pushes against the narrow gray rectangle, and the ‘meat’ of the painting
is sandwiched in between.
I was inspired to leave abstraction for realism by Andrew Wyeth, whose show in 1962 led
to a turning point in my art. The particularity in nature was always very important to me,
yet I was not using it in my painting because of my abstract style. Wyeth helped to trigger
my love of the differences in subject matter and to put it down in paint.
The third area of my philosophy is my concern over the disappearance of so many aspects
of our human heritage. The self-reliance of a family farm has been part of humanity
for millennia. We might see it all but disappear from North America in our lifetime. We
are building an artificial world which even protects us from the seasons. Our ancestors
lived by them and thus had the satisfaction of appreciating the variety that nature has to
offer. The winter coat on the horse and on the land are part of this precious and eternal cycle.”
Biography
Robert Bateman has been called the most famous living artist. He continues to paint and tour the world to promote conservation and preservation of nature. We have represented Robert Bateman for decades and are now the sole publisher and distributor of his reproductions. We are so honored to work with him and witness his success. He has made such a massive contribution to the art world and the natural world as an artist and educator of the earth’s most important resources.
Nature as a subject is becoming more and more popular as our environment is in peril. What better subject is there than the beautiful creatures we share this world with? Robert Bateman’s appreciation and understanding of nature are apparent in his paintings. He is able to paint flora and fauna the way your eye would perceive it in real life. It is important that the animal takes full attention. The background becomes muted, and therefore it doesn’t take too much focus away from the subject. His paintings seem effortless and masterful all at once.
Bateman’s eye for composition is unparalleled. Each painting is a composed like a symphony, leading the eye to wander. From the backyards of North America to the sprawling plains of Africa. Robert Bateman captures nature the way it should be enjoyed. Above all he is a champion of wildlife. For this reason he has become a household name for art collectors.
