Mount Giles, MacDonnell Ranges, Central Australia 1958

This watercolour landscape by Albert Namatjira captures the light and vastness of the MacDonnell Ranges. I can almost see him outside, squinting under the Australian sun, as he layers the washes of colour. Look at how he renders the distant mountains in cool blues, so different from the warm browns and purples of the rocks in the foreground. He carefully builds up the forms with transparent layers, one over the other. I imagine him patiently waiting for each layer to dry before adding the next, building up the subtle gradations of tone and texture. The way he juxtaposes the smooth washes of the sky with the intricate details of the foliage is really appealing. I think of other landscape painters like Cezanne who, despite their different approaches and sensibilities, also sought to capture the essence of a place through close observation and careful mark-making. Painting is a conversation that goes on and on, across time and space. We keep building on what others have done, seeing the world through their eyes, and adding our own voice to the mix.