Going to Church 1986

Clementine Hunter painted 'Going to Church' with oil on board sometime in her long lifetime. It's so clear that Hunter isn't trying to imitate reality but to capture it, with a kind of raw, heartfelt directness. The colors are laid down flat, almost like a kid's painting, but don’t be fooled. Look at that sky: it's not just blue, there are streaks of white in it. And how about the ochre ground, which seems to vibrate like the sun is beating down, reflecting off the bright clothes of the figures. I love how each character has been carefully delineated, each with their own unique outfit and the brushstrokes that animate them. Hunter's work reminds me a little of Horace Pippin, another self-taught artist who found beauty in everyday life, or maybe even Henri Rousseau with those flat planes of vibrant color. Ultimately, it's the honesty in Hunter’s work that really shines through; she captures not just a scene but a feeling, a memory, a way of life.