The Sunny South 1887

Tom Roberts painted this landscape using traditional materials of oil paint on canvas. Look closely, and you can see the quick, gestural brushstrokes he used to capture the light and atmosphere. Roberts was part of the Heidelberg School, a group of Australian impressionists who sought to depict the unique light and landscape of their country. The very act of painting 'en plein air,' or outdoors, was a radical departure from the studio-bound practices of earlier artists. It brought art closer to everyday life, to the experience of being in the world. The painting is an attempt to capture a fleeting moment in time, the warmth of the sun on the skin, the cool shade of the trees. The nude figures add to this sense of immediacy, of being present in the moment. The canvas, the paint, the brushstrokes, all come together to create an image that is both beautiful and evocative. By emphasizing materials, making, and context, we can understand the full meaning of this artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.