Autumn Color — Daily Hue for May 15, 2026
Marsden Hartley · 1910 · User upload
Hidden color: Deep Muted Cerise (#5b333e)
Hartley painted many of his small, early compositions over a colorful priming layer that generously shows through the upper strokes of pure, undiluted colors. In this composition, the deep purple priming layer was thinly painted with a wide bristle brush, which creates a feathery, semitransparent texture. In addition to influencing the overall tonality of the picture, it creates the impression of outlines around the individual brushstrokes, achieving dimension within the picture plane and infusing the composition with animated vibrancy.