Portrait of Iberia Performer 1944

Dorrit Black made this portrait of an Iberia performer with oil paints. The colours are earthy, but not dull. There's a blue that really pops, like a summer sky glimpsed through a window. You can see the brushstrokes, thick and deliberate, especially in the performer’s outfit. Black wasn't afraid to let the process show. Look at the jacket, with its strange symbols, like a secret code. It’s not just decoration; it feels like a language, a way of communicating something beyond words. The paint is built up in layers, creating a texture that’s almost sculptural. You can imagine Black working and reworking the surface, searching for the right balance. This feels connected to the way Vanessa Bell approached portraiture, where capturing a likeness wasn't the whole story. It's about capturing a feeling, an atmosphere. Ultimately, Dorrit Black embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own interpretations.