The artwork titled “Steamer Leaving Avalon, Catalina Island,” created by Granville Redmond, is an oil painting embodying the Tonalism movement. This piece falls within the genre of marina and captures the serene departure of a steamer from Avalon, a charming locale on Catalina Island.
The artwork depicts a steamship navigating through the undulating waves of a peaceful sea, leaving a trail of smoke in its wake. The vessel is painted with rich, dark hues that contrast with the brighter shades of the surrounding landscape and water. In the background, the contours of Catalina Island are rendered in subdued tones, characteristic of the Tonalism movement, where atmospheric effects of light and shadow are emphasized to create mood and emotion. The sky is painted in a delicate combination of blues and greens, interspersed with soft, wispy clouds, enhancing the overall tranquil ambiance of the scene. Granville Redmond’s brushstrokes are expressive and deliberate, and through his use of oil medium, he succeeds in conveying a sense of movement and the majestic essence of the marine landscape.