In the Garden #116 1983

Jennifer Bartlett made 'In the Garden #116' with oil on canvas, and she approached the canvas with real intent, building the image through repeated marks. I love the materiality of this piece, the way the paint sits on the surface, kind of flat but also full of subtle variation. The colours are muted, almost like a faded memory, with these gentle blues and greens evoking a sense of calm. The paint is thinly applied allowing the texture of the canvas to peek through in places. The way the light plays across the tiles in the pool gives it an ethereal feeling. Look at the small strokes used to delineate the leaves of the hedge. These marks, almost dotted, create a beautiful texture that is both realistic and abstract, reminiscent of pointillism. Bartlett's work reminds me a bit of Fairfield Porter, especially in how she captures the light and atmosphere of everyday scenes, turning them into something profound. Art is a conversation across time, isn't it? Each artist building upon the ideas of those who came before. It's about embracing ambiguity and letting the viewer find their own meaning.