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1) Use of subtle colour tones comprised of various greens, purples, blues, and greys that are restful and easy on the eye:
The Tonalists were known for their subtle use of colour tones. They focused on creating a peaceful and calming feeling in their artwork.
They used colours like red, blue, and yellow to evoke a sense of tranquillity and daydreaming. By using earth and sky tones, including greys and blacks, they emphasised the abstract and symbolic qualities of natural forms, similar to black and white photography.
J. Francis Murphy
Summertime, 1885
J. Francis Murphy's Summertime, 1885, is considered an early masterpiece of Tonalism. It features a synthetic arrangement of landscape elements and a prominent array of green tones that create a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Summary
Summary
1. The Tonalists used a subtle range of similar colour tones to create a calming sensation.
2. They focused on colours between red and blue, as well as yellow, to evoke tranquility and daydreaming.
3. Earth and sky tones, including greys and blacks, were used to highlight abstract and symbolic qualities of natural forms.
4. J. Francis Murphy's Summertime, 1885, is an early masterpiece of Tonalism, with green tones creating a serene atmosphere.
5. Leonard Ochtman's Greenwich, 1896, showcases various green tonalities in brush marks of different intensity and direction.
6. Fall Meadow, c 1910, uses a restricted range of umber brown tones in horizontal and vertical brush strokes.
7. William Coffin's Sunset, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, 1924, achieves a similar effect with lush layers of green.
8. Charles Melville Dewey's Long Island Sunset of c 1910 uses earth tones to depict the fading glory of the day.
9. Reviewers recognised the emotional quality of Tonalist colour, describing it as austere and harmonious.
10. Contemporary artists like Paul Balmer and Wolf Kahn continue to use limited ranges of green tones to create calming and symbolic works.
J. Francis Murphy
Summer, 1906
Another example is Murphy's Summer, 1906, where a variety of greens and ochres are applied in broad swaths of energised pigment, carrying the emotional weight of the painting.
Leonard Ochtman
Greenwich, 1896
Leonard Ochtman's Greenwich, 1896, showcases various green tones applied in brush marks of different intensity and direction.
The delicate grids of spring hues are interrupted only by the dappled road, stone walls, and geometric forms of red-orange in the buildings.
Leonard Ochtman
Fall Meadow, ca. 1910
Similarly, Fall Meadow, c 1910, delights in the vigorous patterning of horizontal and vertical brush strokes using a restricted range of umber brown tones.
The grey foreground tree anchors the eye and adds relief to the surrounding hues, giving the painting its essential emotional impact.
William Anderson Coffin
Sunset, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, 1924
William Coffin's Sunset, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, 1924, achieves a similar effect with a lush layering of olive and pea greens, despite its small scale.
Charles Melville Dewey
Long Island Sunset, ca. 1910
Charles Melville Dewey's Long Island Sunset of c 1910 also captivates viewers with its use of lush earth tones to depict the fading glory of the day.
A review by Charles de Kay in the New York Times of William Sartain's paintings, including Nonquit, c. 1900, illustrates how reviewers were aware of the emotional quality of Tonalist colour. De Kay describes Sartain's landscapes as austere, with broad smooth browns, greys, and drab-coloured sketches of moorlands and sand dunes by the sea. He notes a general harmoniousness in the tones.
Paul Balmer
Green Hills, 2013
In a contemporary vein, Paul Balmer's Green Hills achieves a similar effect using a limited range of green tones. His spirited brushwork and dramatic hatched patterns enhance the joyful spring colours depicted in the painting.
Wolf Kahn
May Tree Line, 1993
Wolf Kahn's May Tree Line, 1993, expertly uses subtle green tones to create a work of quiet horizontal abstraction, representing nature's vibrant spring awakening and serving as a symbol of postmodern Tonalism.
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