Sentence of death 1908

John Collier painted this image, titled 'Sentence of Death', with oils, and the effect of light feels crucial to its tension. There is a sombre palette here, but light pours in on the seated figure, and the desk like water - or perhaps a spotlight. I love how the artist has rendered the texture of the tweed suit, it is as though you can feel the nap of the fabric, while the shadows are rendered in deep blacks and browns. This attention to detail reminds me of the Pre-Raphaelites. The seated figure looks as though he is the very definition of being petrified. Look at how his hands are clasped, seemingly casual but are in fact indicative of high anxiety. This, and the title, give the painting its drama. The drama here reminds me a little of the photography of Jeff Wall, who also creates a narrative tension in an apparently ordinary scene. Art is such a beautiful conversation across time, don't you think?