Maynard Dixon
"Road to the Mountains (Santa Catalina Range)" 1943 Oil 16” x 20”
(SOLD)
(Signed Bottom Left Maynard Dixon Ariz. 1943. Title, Name, Tucson Address, and Ledger Number “669” on verso)
Maynard Dixon began spending winters in Tucson during the 1940s mainly for his health. He had long struggled with asthma and other respiratory problems, and the dry, warm desert climate offered him relief. Tucson also gave him an inspiring setting to paint, with its clear light, open desert, and mountain ranges like the Santa Catalinas.
In this period, Dixon’s art shifted toward a quieter, more thoughtful style. From his home in the foothills, he painted the wide valleys and mountain ranges with renewed focus. The Santa Catalina Mountains became a recurring subject, their shifting tones and forms reflecting his deep connection to the land. These works capture both the dramatic beauty of the desert and Dixon’s search for clarity and peace in his final years.
This 1943 painting shows Dixon’s deep response to the Tucson landscape. A lone rider moves through the quiet desert foreground while the Santa Catalina Mountains rise in bold shadow and light, capturing both the drama and stillness of the land. It is rare to see a human figure in these on-location paintings Dixon made during the 1940s, making this painting especially unique. His simplified forms and strong contrasts reflect the contemplative style of his later years, shaped by the desert’s clarity and the healing climate he sought in Tucson.
This painting has sold, but if you’d like to be placed on the waiting list for new Maynard Dixon paintings, please contact us here: info@maxwellalexandergallery.com or 213-275-1060