I have to agree that 5e art is good but not great. I would like to see the evocative scenes of 2e art combined with 5e's more modern sensibilities.
The art in the PHB is dull. When it shows characters they are rarely interacting with the environment or opponents. The picture on page 156 showing the caravan is a good example.
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Why not pull back a bit and show the fantastic landscape the party is travelling through or show a hidden enemy watching them? Add something interesting instead of having a static, boring scene.
Thankfully, it is getting better. Compare the art in Dragon Heist or Descent to Avernus to the PHB. The full page scenes are dynamic and interesting.