Miss Close 1939

Wyndham Lewis painted Miss Close with oil on canvas, and you can see how he really builds up the forms. Look at the blue of her coat and dress, that's not a flat, uniform colour, is it? You can see the brushstrokes layering and blending, making the fabric look thick and substantial. And the fur collar! It's almost like he's sculpting with the paint, dabbing and swirling to create this sense of texture. It's really interesting how some parts are so meticulously rendered, like the details of her face and hands, while others are more gestural and expressive. It makes you think about the choices an artist makes, what to focus on, what to leave a little rough around the edges. This reminds me of how Philip Guston allowed awkwardness to emerge through the process. It is these unresolved or slightly jarring elements that add a sense of vitality and complexity to the painting.