By Richard Sorby
Located in Denver, CO
Richard Sorby (American, 1911–2001)
Modernist Forest Landscape, circa 1940
Watercolor on paper
Signed lower right
Image: 22¾ × 14¾ inches
Framed: 26½ × 18½ × 1 inches
A refined example of early American Modernism, this original watercolor by celebrated Colorado artist Richard Sorby captures a forest landscape through a sophisticated modernist lens. Created circa 1940, the work demonstrates Sorby's ability to balance recognizable natural forms with abstraction, transforming a quiet woodland scene into an exploration of color, structure, and atmosphere.
Stylized vertical tree forms dominate the composition, arranged in a rhythmic pattern of deep greens, blues, and blacks accented by warm earth tones of brown, orange, and white. Through expressive watercolor washes and simplified shapes, Sorby creates a sense of depth and movement while preserving the tranquility of the natural environment. The result is a poetic landscape that bridges American Modernism, regional Colorado art, and the evolving language of twentieth-century abstraction.
Richard Sorby was an important figure in the development of modern art in Colorado. After earning his BFA from Colorado State College of Education (now the University of Northern Colorado), he studied with influential artists including Vance Kirkland and William Joseph Eastman...
Category
1940s American Modern Thomas Broadbent Landscape Paintings
MaterialsWatercolor, Archival Paper
