Scenic Grandeur At Every Turn

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Roger Brown was one of a generation of students at the Art Institute of Chicago who were influenced by European Surrealism, self-taught artists and popular culture. Along with Jim Nutt, Gladys Nilsson and others, Brown was a key member of the “Hairy Who,” a group of artists noted for cartoonish styles, confrontational subjects and skilled craftsmanship. Brown is distinguished for imposing a sense of order on motifs ranging from mountain passes to urban high-rises. His boldly-colored compositions are characterized by repeated forms and silhouetted figures that are engaged in a variety of activities. The treatment of the hillsides in 'Scenic Grandeur at Every Turn' pays homage to Joseph Yoakum (whose landscape is also in the collection). Despite its title and lively patterns, the painting depicts a desolate, even ominous, landscape that overwhelms the stranded figures and will soon engulf the approaching tractor-trailer.

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