Silver Moonlight, 1918

The atmospheric quality of light and its ability to evoke certain moods formed the basis for many of Ault’s paintings. The subject of the nocturne, in particular, fascinated him throughout his career. Silver Moonlight is an early example of this interest.  At the center of the composition stands a large bare tree incised into the thick impasto of the night sky and palely illuminated by the winter moon.  Its limbs hang downward, and a row of four other trees recedes into the distance at right, emphasizing the solitude of the central one.  Ault frequently employed the form of the isolated, barren tree, which suggests that it carried special meaning for him.  Though seemingly dead on the surface, it is alive beneath.  This subtle insinuation of hope is furthered by the proximity and fortitude of the small shrub located next to the tree’s shadow.

Ault’s evocation of a moonlit winter night is comprised of only a few compositional elements, thus anticipating the pared-down aesthetic of his precisionist work that followed.  The allure of the painting is its stark and wistful mood, conveyed not only by the soft grayish hues of his palette but also the solid, deliberate application of paint.   In this respect, it is akin to English and German Romantic literature, wherein beauty is often found in nature and in melancholy. The allusion to poetry is apt: Silver Moonlight possesses the unfolding artistry and compositional rhythm of verse.