Scenery in Southern France 

Winston Churchill painted this scene of Southern France with oil on canvas, probably en plein air, capturing a fleeting moment in the landscape. Churchill applies the paint with thick, expressive strokes. The sky is rendered in broad swathes of blues and whites, suggesting movement and atmosphere. Look at how the texture of the paint itself becomes a key element of the composition. The materiality of the pigment on the canvas mimics the density of the clouds above. The trees are quick, vertical marks, contrasting with the horizontal landscape. It's worth remembering that Churchill, a prominent political figure, took up painting as a hobby. He often gifted paintings or even sold them under a pseudonym, which provided a respite from the pressures of leadership, and allowed him to engage with the world in a completely different way. Considering the time and care invested in its creation, we can appreciate the significance of traditional artistic techniques and the labour involved in the production of this artwork, a world away from the world of politics.