Surreal Landscape (Beach at Harvey Cedars)

 

Katherine Schlater

  1893 - 1982 (biography)

c. 1930  

drawing 

12 1/8 x 15" image 

unsigned 

1 of 1 unique 

pencil annotated in lower left: “Drawing for Lithograph—Beach at Harvey Cedars” 

 

thin, antique-white wove 

 

 

MMAE207 

$500.00 

In the bottom left margin of this piece is the annotation "Drawing for lithograph - Beach at Harvey Cedars". Katherine Schlater depicts the calm New Jersey beach with a flat horizon and low waves. At first glance it seems like an innocuous seascape with old pier posts emerging from the sand. However, upon closer inspection we see some posts beginning to morph into faces and figures; one is entirely transformed into an enormous morning glory blossom unfurling its petals. At the time of this drawing's creation, surrealism was at its peak in Europe, and Schlater was likely influenced by the artists whose unusual compositions were beginning to penetrate the American art scene. Whether the lithograph ever came to fruition is unknown.