“July Waterfall,” painted by Pat Steir in 1991, is an exemplary piece of the Post-Painterly Abstraction movement. This oil on canvas artwork, classified within the figurative genre, is housed at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork depicts a visual representation of a waterfall, rendered through vertical streaks of paint cascading down the canvas. The effect of continuously falling water is achieved through a meticulous technique of layering and dripping oil paint. The canvas is dominated by hues of white and light gray, which contrast against the darker background, creating a dynamic interplay of movement and stillness. The abstracted portrayal evokes both the power and serenity of a waterfall, encapsulated in a minimalist yet profound aesthetic.
