Alex Katz began painting beach scenes at the end of the 1990s. He painted ‘en plein air’ to capture the color and light of a particular moment. This work explores the effect of light on water with skillful brushstrokes. He has been painting the American landscape since the 1950s, often during summer sojourns in Maine. Katz is known for his large paintings, whose bold simplicity and heightened colors are now considered precursors to Pop Art.

4:30 PM by Alex Katz beautifully captures the sparkling summer light of the coastline of Penobscot, Maine. Katz painted these beach scenes ‘en plein air’ at both sunrise and sunset. Although he lives in New York, he has been painting the American landscape since the 1950s, often inspired by the summers he spent in Maine.

Alex Katz, a renowned American artist known for his distinctive style, often characterized by flatness, bold colors, and simplified forms, has captured the essence of a serene seascape in his original print titled “4:30 PM”. In this artwork, Katz presents a tranquil scene that beautifully encapsulates the quiet elegance and calmness of a summer day by the sea.

The composition of the piece is dominated by a vast expanse of blue, skillfully divided into two main sections: the sky and the sea. The sky is a bright, clear blue, evoking the boundless optimism and warmth of summer. Katz’s portrayal of the sky is simple yet striking, with a consistent hue that suggests a cloudless, sunny day. This simplicity is a hallmark of Katz’s style, where minimalism does not detract from the depth of the scene but instead enhances the viewer’s focus on the color and composition.

Below the sky, the sea stretches out in a slightly darker shade of blue, mirroring the sky’s tranquility but adding a subtle texture that hints at gentle waves. The seamless transition between the sky and sea creates a harmonious balance, reinforcing the peaceful atmosphere of the scene. Katz’s treatment of water is minimalistic, yet it effectively conveys the sense of calm that comes from observing the ocean’s steady rhythm.

Scattered across this serene sea are a few white boats, their crisp, clean lines contrasting sharply with the blues around them. These boats, painted in a stark white, not only provide a focal point within the composition but also introduce a sense of scale and activity to the otherwise still landscape. The boats are depicted with Katz’s characteristic economy of detail, suggesting their presence without delving into intricate features, which adds to the overall feeling of simplicity and calmness.

The use of color in “4:30 PM” is deliberate and effective, with Katz choosing a palette that emphasizes tranquility and expansiveness. The blues dominate the scene, creating a cohesive and immersive experience, while the white boats punctuate the composition, drawing the eye and adding a dynamic element to the otherwise serene seascape.

Katz’s “4:30 PM” is more than just a depiction of a seascape; it is an exploration of light, color, and form that evokes the leisurely pace and peacefulness of summer. The print captures a fleeting moment of calm and quiet, offering viewers a visual retreat into a world of simplicity and beauty. It is a testament to Katz’s mastery of his craft and his ability to convey emotion and atmosphere through the minimalist yet powerful use of line and color.

Alex Katz / Pioneer of Pop Art

Alex Katz is especially famous for his figurative paintings: The son of Russian Jewish immigrants, he was born in New York in 1927. As a pioneer of Pop Art, he always concentrated on the essentials and early on, he dealt with simplified forms and contrasting color compositions. His art is diverse, but always has beauty as its central theme. The artist can now look back on more than 200 solo and around 500 group exhibitions; his diverse works are part of over 100 collections worldwide. Alex Katz lives and works in New York and Maine.