Captivating. The movement in the grass across contours makes me think about Ravilious and the difference in media as well as landscape.

I hadn't heard of him (this is all a fabulous journey of discovery). V mich enjoyed looking him up. Thank you!

You can also sense their trickiness. They are calling you to pay attention to them, and the feet that wore them...

In Stanley Spencer's 'Cottage at St Ives,' (1937) the scene has an abundance of circumstantial and realistic detail. Its quality is drawn from his intense absorption, his unerring control of space, and his ability to depict every detail before him almost without discrimination.

Evelyn Dunbar’s admiration for Stanley Spencer’s vision emerges in her painting, depicting an army tailor and ATS Tailoresses from 1943. Dunbar was modest about her achievements; the lack of gallery representation led to some neglect of her work until recent years.

I remember to this day when it first happened to me, aged about 8. It was a blue and white milk jug in a neighbour's house. But it hasn't ever happened to me with a painting. Maybe I am not looking at one thing long enough. I will try it.

'Still life.' (1937) One of Giorgio Morandi's friends, the writer Dino Campana, wrote in one of his short stories: 'the surest way to amaze ourselves is to stare fixedly at a given object. At one point, it will seem to us, miraculously, that we are seeing it for the first time.'

So alive! Tho the stance is puzzling

As ever, your context is so helpful! It's the sleeve I. The mirror that catches me; the sense of all we do not see about ourselves and it's casual, clean edged beauty

Throughout the Edwardian period, Harold Knight overhauled his portrait painting. The formulaic face-painting of the Victorians gave way to expression of character; the sense that a subject has been seized from life’s continuum became the essential criteria of a good portrait.

I keep forgetting! Writing is never a linear process.

Me too. But I'm waiting for your impending volume! Or, possible these recommendations...

Your context is always helpful. I miss the people but notice other things.

'Whitesand Bay, Cornwall.' (c1914) There is an obvious overlapping with Laura and Harold Knight's subject matter, but their approach was different. In Laura's work, we can feel an immediacy, Harold is more restrained, meticulous and his work rarely involves people.

How interesting. His use of light seems to create height and space, as compared to the way Pissaro's work makes me feel enfolded.

Interesting to see what would have been modern objects, rather than timeless fruit or silver or glass as still life. Now their antique, matt finish speaks of how technology gobbles up time and energy

I'm not surprised by the
Sensation. It is all the things in the comments but also the tilt of the head and the strong sense of known mysteries/depth

This reminds me a lot of Jupiter Artland in Scotland....

NEET Zero - tackling the emergency of our time Britain is at risk of losing the next generation. We need to act fast.

NEET zero - how to tackle the emergency of our time. Nearly one million young people not in education, employment or training. Well below the OECD average.
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‘Changing the Story’ - Review of 2025 Which of the political parties best managed to change their story this year?

Which political party in the UK has best changed their story in 2025? My verdict and marks out of 10.
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How interesting as well as beautiful! Reveals just how distracting hair can be.

The almost empty space gives your eye chance to dance about! The texture of the paint sings, the newspaper ruddles and the pocket handed chief of sea explains why everyone is outside.

Quite.ot of difference! It isn't just the light though. It is the subjects. Fascinated too to discover the society. I will join it. Thank you. As always!

Somebody’s looking after him-they’ve even taken the top off his egg..

You can sense the searing heat and the danger. The fragility of the skeleton ceiling spars and the struts is distractingly Eloquent;he shells themselves alive with menace

Thank you for taking the time! Fascinating.

William York Macgregor is remembered as one of the leading figures of the Glasgow Boys and co-founder of 'The Glasgow School' with his schoolfriend, the artist James Paterson. 'The Vegetable Stall,' (1884) is considered to be Macgregor's masterpiece.

I always love Laura Knight's work. The angles of the bodies perfectly convey the tingling intensity of dynamic interaction with the sea. The colours and textures in the rocks and cliffs are fabulous and the last ght on the sea. off to find a Staithes painting to explore the difference

As in several of James Fitzgerald's paintings (this is from 1930) a human presence is only suggested; the light from the boats interiors lets us know there are people present, there's a quiet partnership suggested here.

How is it that you would be certain this is French even if you didn't know? Or that you can hear the background sounds of feet on gravel and children shrieks and laughter?