Farm Buildings in Provence 1934

Curator: This painting, held in the Tate Collections, is entitled "Farm Buildings in Provence" by Sine Mackinnon, who was active throughout most of the twentieth century. It measures about 27 by 41 centimeters. Editor: It has a slightly desolate quality to it. The starkness of the trees, the subdued colors...it speaks to the realities of rural life, perhaps. Curator: I'm intrigued by the materiality of the scene: the rendering of the buildings themselves, seemingly constructed of local stone, and the bareness of the landscape suggesting the labor required to work it. It's a portrait of a specific place, but also of the relationship between people and land. Editor: Precisely, and the painting positions this rural environment within a larger cultural narrative of Provence, a region that has long held symbolic significance in art and literature. Mackinnon is participating in and reacting to that history. Curator: Examining the brushwork, one can see a clear application of paint; the texture creates another layer of meaning, emphasizing the tactile nature of the landscape. Editor: It certainly gives us something to think about regarding place and labour. Curator: Indeed, it's about more than just what's depicted; it is also about *how* it's depicted.