Self Portrait. Myself at Work 1933

Archibald Motley made this painting of himself, mid-work, with oils on canvas. I love the directness of his gaze and the colour palette he’s chosen here. It is so much about the practice and, you know, being an artist. The surface is smooth, almost polished, and the paint application is so controlled and precise. You can see that Motley is in command of his materials, but not in a flashy way. Look at the way he renders the skin tones, both on the figure in the painting and his own exposed arm, it is so subtle. There's a quiet confidence in the way he applies colour and constructs forms; you could almost see the cross as supporting the work of the body. It puts me in mind of other artists, like Van Der Weyden maybe, who were interested in the relationship between faith, labour and creativity. It’s all an ongoing conversation, right? And nothing is ever really finished.