Wallpaper from Bandbox 1936

Charlotte Angus painted this wallpaper design sometime in the 20th century, using gouache and graphite. The colours are muted, like an old photograph, and the scene is rendered with quick, playful strokes. The flat, ochre ground contrasts with the brown of the trees and landscape, while the figures and horses are painted in ghostly greys and whites. I love the way Angus uses a simple palette to evoke a sense of nostalgia and faded grandeur, the colours creating a dreamy, otherworldly atmosphere. Look closely, and you can see graphite lines underneath the paint, especially in the horses. These marks create a sense of movement, as if the whole scene is caught in a fleeting moment, or maybe dissolving before our eyes. This reminds me of Redon’s dreamlike, symbolist imagery, particularly the way he used colour to create a sense of mystery and otherworldliness. It is like they are both embracing the idea that art doesn't have to be so serious.