The Little Interior 1926

Gwen John made this painting, called "The Little Interior", most likely in oil paint. It is a painting full of quiet looking. I think you can really get a sense of John as a painter who's interested in the process, not just in the outcome. The colours are very restrained and subtle. Look how she uses different shades of grey, brown, and white to create a sense of depth and light in the room. The texture is pretty smooth, but you can still see the brushstrokes and the way the paint has been layered on the surface. The whole thing feels like a whisper. Take a look at that little brown teapot. It is so solid, almost like a little lump of clay. It gives the piece a center, a still point. Something to focus on when the rest of the image feels almost like a dream. I'm reminded of Agnes Martin; that sense of quiet and stillness, but with a very different approach to mark making. It’s an invitation to slow down, to look closely, and to find beauty in the everyday.