Wall Paper c. 1936

Charlotte Angus made this "Wall Paper" using gouache and graphite, and what's striking is the approach to mark making. It feels deliberate, like a puzzle coming together. The color palette is warm, grounded – browns and tans with unexpected pops of pink. It reminds me of the kind of color combinations you'd find in old, slightly faded photographs. There’s a tension between flat decorative pattern and an attempt to depict depth. Look at the textures, how the gouache sits on the surface, creating little ridges. I can almost imagine the artist dabbing and layering, building up the scene. Take the group of ducks taking off from the bank in the lower left corner. The pink used to depict them is so unexpected, but it somehow works, creating a focal point amidst the earth tones. It’s this kind of playful decision-making that makes art so engaging, isn't it? Like those works of Bonnard, a synthesis of observation and formal invention. Ultimately, art is about embracing ambiguity and multiple interpretations, which Angus achieves beautifully here.