Irises 1942

Rita Angus made this watercolour painting, Irises, sometime around 1942. It's a beautiful demonstration of how simplicity can be incredibly powerful. The way Angus layers the colours is really striking. Look at the petals; they’re not just purple but a mix of washes, creating depth. I love how you can almost see the water moving the pigment around on the page. The texture of the paper gives a toothy quality which gives it this earthly feel. The stems, too, are fascinating. She uses these confident, linear strokes to give a rigid feeling. Then the vase itself is almost abstracted. The way the colours flow into each other makes the Irises feel full of life. I always find myself thinking of Agnes Martin when I look at this piece. Both artists find ways to make their paintings personal and universal at the same time. There are so many conversations happening within art, if you just stop and listen.