Dimensions: support: 790 x 562 mm
Copyright: © The estate of Sir William Coldstream. All Rights Reserved 2010 / Bridgeman Art Library | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Here we have Sir William Coldstream's "Winifred Burger," currently residing in the Tate Collections. The support measures 790 by 562 millimeters. Editor: It feels like a very quiet, reflective piece. The palette is muted, soft. There's this pensive gaze...almost melancholic. Curator: Indeed. Coldstream's rigorous approach, evident in the deliberate brushstrokes, seeks to capture objective reality. The composition is carefully structured, emphasizing form and volume. Editor: But there's a vulnerability, too. The sketchy quality of the shirt, the way the light hits her face... It hints at something beyond mere representation. Almost like a fleeting emotion, wouldn’t you say? Curator: Perhaps. But I find the emphasis is more on the analysis of visual data. The subdued color palette contributes to the overall structural integrity. Editor: For me, it whispers a story. A story of quiet strength. Curator: Ultimately, it serves as a testament to Coldstream's dedication to precision. Editor: And that's what makes it so compelling.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/coldstream-winifred-burger-t00339
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Coldstream studied at the Slade School of Art and then tried to make his living as a professional artist. Shortage of money, however, forced him to teach and, from 1934 to 1937, to work with the pioneering documentary film-maker, John Grierson, at the GPO (General Post Office) Film Unit. In 1937 Coldstream and others founded the Euston Road School of Drawing and Painting. This was Coldstream's first portrait on his return to full-time painting. It was commissioned by the sitter's husband and painted at the Burgers' flat in Upper Park Road, Hampstead. The portrait surived the bombing of Burgers' flat during the war. Gallery label, August 2004