The artwork titled “River Cloud,” created by Wayne Thiebaud in 2002, belongs to the New Realism art movement and falls under the landscape genre. The painting is an exemplary representation of Thiebaud’s mastery in capturing landscapes with a unique blend of realism and abstraction.
In the artwork, a vast expanse of farmland is depicted, divided into distinct sections of various pastel tones and shades, showcasing an array of greens, blues, and purples. The landscape is bisected horizontally by a river, whose reflective surface captures the hues of the sky. Above the farmland, a large, soft, and nebulous cloud hovers, casting a shadow that adds depth and dimension to the scene. The composition is highly geometric, with the neat, orderly fields contrasting the fluid, organic form of the cloud, creating a sense of harmonious balance in the piece. The meticulous attention to detail and the skillful use of color and light are characteristic of Thiebaud’s distinctive style.
