Harold Ancart's iceberg paintings are a profound exploration of the natural form, abstraction, and the painterly process itself. Starting in January 2018, Ancart embarked on this series in response to a particularly cold winter in New York City, where he is based. These works were first introduced to the UK audience in his exhibition "Freeze" at David Zwirner, London, marking his first solo presentation in the country as well as with the gallery​ (Ocula Art)​.

The subject of icebergs in Ancart's work acts as a vehicle for dissecting the canvas into abstract parts from a figurative whole, transforming serene seascapes into meditations on the act of painting. Ancart's initial paintings in this series closely adhered to the conventional representation of icebergs—compositionally and chromatically resembling the icy masses. However, as the series progressed, these depictions became increasingly rich in texture and palette. Ancart himself noted the evolution of his work, suggesting that as the subject distilled into shapes and color, the paintings' poetic impact on the viewer intensified​ (David Zwirner)​.

These iceberg paintings also evoke the tradition of nineteenth-century Romantic landscapes, echoing the works of Frederic Edwin Church and aligning with the abstract expressionism seen in Philip Guston's work, as well as the color theory explorations of Josef Albers. Ancart leverages the horizon line as a recurring element, bisecting each canvas to delineate sky from sea, foreground from background, thereby guiding the viewer from a recognizable subject towards abstract contemplation​ (David Zwirner)​​ (Ocula Art)​.

Through his iceberg series, Ancart embarks on a journey of exploration and discovery, not only of the external landscapes he depicts but also of the internal landscape of his creative process. He describes painting as an exploratory act, a journey into "unconquerable, unthinkable territories" where the outcome is uncertain and the process itself is the reward. This approach reflects Ancart's belief in the uniqueness of each artist's voice and the importance of standing firm in one's creative convictions​ (David Zwirner)​.

Ancart's iceberg paintings thus serve as a powerful testament to the artist's inquiry into the nature of painting, perception, and the transcendent beauty of the natural world. Through these works, he invites viewers to contemplate the intersection of the visible and the imagined, the concrete and the abstract, and the temporal and the eternal.