John Marin was deeply inspired by the land. He hiked various regions of the Northeast all while documenting his surroundings and adventures on paper using portable painting supplies and his easel. Maine held special significance for the artist, and subjects such as Small Point, Deer Isle, and Centerville reappear throughout his body of work. Of higher latitude than previous locations, Centerville represents Marin’s perpetual journey north, deeper into the woods. In Region of Centerville, Maine, the abstract landscape in the foreground contrasts with the distinct shapes in the sky. This juxtaposition speaks to the artist’s desire to synthesize two parallel passions: a faithful commitment to the natural world and the modernist drive toward abstraction.