Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

As one’s gaze settles upon Paul Nash's "Landscape of the Moon's First Quarter," the viewer is immediately captivated by the painting’s ethereal amalgamation of the terrestrial and celestial. The composition is set against a backdrop that evokes both otherworldly expansiveness and the familiarity of Earth’s terrain.

The foreground features abstracted, fractured planes that suggest rocky, almost sculptural forms. These jagged, geometric shapes convey the texture and barrenness associated with lunar landscapes, while their arrangement introduces a surreal sense of floating or being partially suspended. Their monochromatic palette of deep blues, greys, and blacks contributes to this spectral atmosphere.

The middle ground extends a smoother, softer horizon that seems to hover ambiguously between sky and ground, perhaps a reference to the never fully illuminated surface of the moon during its first quarter phase. This nebulous horizon is intersected by spectral, plant-like forms, their elongated limbs stretching out like cosmic tendrils. These elements create tension and dynamism within the otherwise static and quiet scene.

Above this, the night sky ranges from a deep indigo to velvety blacks, studded with glimmers of starlight. Dominating the center-right of the painting is a large, crescent moon, rendered with careful attention to its luminous quality. This celestial body acts as both an anchor and a focal point, emphasizing the moon's influence and central role within Nash’s theme. The effect is haunting, a uniquely dreamlike rendering of a lunar landscape tinged with surrealism.

Paul Nash was a British surrealist painter and war artist, renowned for his ability to synthesize elements of the real world with the imagined, often imbuing his works with a sense of haunting beauty and mystery. Born in 1889, Nash's career was notably impacted by his experiences in both World Wars, during which he produced some of his most acclaimed works. His oeuvre often reflects themes of nature, mysticism, and the subconscious, as he drew from a wide array of influences ranging from classical landscapes to contemporary surrealist movements.

"Landscape of the Moon's First Quarter" represents a mature period in Nash's career when he had fully embraced surrealism and was exploring increasingly abstract and mystical subjects. Created in 1943, the painting is a testament to Nash’s fascination with the interplay between terrestrial and celestial landscapes, and it reflects his ongoing preoccupation with themes of transformation, time, and the subconscious. The use of stark, non-naturalistic color palettes and the blending of real and imagined landscapes are hallmarks of his later work.

This painting is highly valued, not only for its aesthetic and thematic qualities but also for its historical significance. As of recent records, the original work is held in the collection of the Tate Gallery in London. The Tate has a prestigious collection of works by Paul Nash, recognizing him as a pivotal figure in 20th-century British art. The gallery provides a major conduit through which the public can engage with and appreciate Nash's unique artistic vision.

The combination of his wartime experiences and his encounter with surrealism profoundly influenced Paul Nash’s work. "Landscape of the Moon's First Quarter" stands as a key piece that captures Nash's ability to transcend conventional landscape painting, infusing it with otherworldly narrative and enigmatic beauty.