Forest of Desolation (Untitled Landscape)
Painting on canvas • Signed 'L. Meigh' or 'L. Maugh'. Likely a regional professional or highly skilled independent artist within the mid-century modern or post-war expressive tradition.
Style & Movement
Abstract Expressionist landscape with elements of Surrealism and Fauvist color palettes.
Medium & Technique
Mixed media oil or acrylic with heavy texture. Techniques include sgraffito (scratching into paint), impasto, and dabbing. The background utilizes a crackle-glaze effect or dry-brushing to create a web-like atmospheric texture.
Creation Period
Late 20th century, specifically dated '72 or '92 based on the signature.
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 24 x 18 inches; Portrait orientation.
Subject Description
A stark, emotive landscape featuring skeletal, leafless trees with twisted roots. The ground is dark and subterranean in appearance, while the sky or background is a fiery gradient of orange and red, suggesting a scorched earth, autumn, or a metaphorical wasteland.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good. The work shows intended craquelure in the background for texture, but the paint film appears stable.
Estimated Market Value
$500 - $1,200 (Subject to artist auction record verification)
Auction Estimate
$300 - $600
Provenance History
Private collection. No visible exhibition labels or gallery stamps on the front; reverse inspection would be required for deeper history.
Art Historical Significance
The work reflects the post-war preoccupation with the 'anxious object' and nature in peril. It fits into the tradition of the 'Sublime' landscape, where nature is seen as powerful and terrifying rather than pastoral. Its use of texture aligns with American and European abstraction of the 1960s/70s.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'webbing' texture in the upper sky region; aggressive use of the palette knife in the root structures; artist signature and date in the lower-left corner.
Condition Issues
Minor surface dust and potential yellowing of a top varnish layer. The heavy texture may be prone to future flaking if not kept in a stable environment.
Conservation Recommendations
Light surface cleaning by a professional conservator. Should be framed under UV-protective glass if displayed in bright areas to prevent pigment fading in the orange/red spectrum.