A modernist pastel study of the New Mexico desert, capturing the rhythmic, undulating forms of the high desert terrain through soft colour and gestural lines.

Marsden Hartley produced this work during his extended stay in New Mexico between 1918 and 1920. The region provided a distinct shift in his creative output, moving away from the European avant-garde influences he had previously absorbed. In this pastel, Hartley captures the undulating forms of the high desert terrain with a focus on rhythmic, simplified shapes. The composition relies on soft, rounded contours that suggest the rolling foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Hartley employs a palette of ochre, pale blue, and muted brown, which reflects the specific light and geological character of the American Southwest. The application of pastel allows for a tactile, layered quality, where the texture of the paper remains visible beneath the pigment. Darker, gestural strokes define the shadows and provide structure to the otherwise fluid forms of the hills. Unlike his earlier, more abstract works, this piece demonstrates a move toward a personal form of expressionism. The artist avoids excessive detail, preferring to communicate the physical presence of the environment through colour and line. The sky is rendered with minimal intervention, allowing the focus to remain on the earth. This work is representative of the period when Hartley sought to engage with the American environment, finding a sense of place that had eluded him during his years abroad. The result is a study that balances observation with a subjective interpretation of the desert atmosphere.