Moonlight Sonata

Haleh Mashian

Haleh Mashian

Mixed media on canvas

72 x 72″ (182.9 x 182.9 cm)

Haleh Mashian’s “Moonlight Sonata” presents a forest bathed in deep contrast, where towering birch trees emerge from a darkened expanse. The monochrome palette enhances the interplay between light and shadow, giving the composition a timeless and atmospheric quality. The stark white trunks stand in rhythmic succession, their textured surfaces illuminated as if touched by the glow of moonlight filtering through the dense woodland.

The depth of the scene is accentuated by the layering of black and white tones, with the darker background receding into mystery while the foreground remains crisp and defined. The impasto texture of the paint gives the bark a tactile, almost sculptural presence, reinforcing the organic forms of the trees. Fine, delicate branches weave through the upper portions of the painting, creating a contrast between structure and softness.

“Moonlight Sonata” evokes a sense of quiet solitude, capturing the essence of a nighttime landscape where light plays gently across the natural world. The balance of dark and light, density and openness, creates a composition that feels both grounded and ethereal. The painting offers a contemplative look at the beauty of nature, distilled into the simplest yet most expressive elements of black, white, and texture, making it a sleek and modern addition to any art collector or interior designer’s repertoire.