Magdalena 2007

Richard Hambleton’s painting, Magdalena, seems to have emerged from the canvas through layers of colour and texture. Predominantly rendered in shades of copper and silver, the brushstrokes are layered and dynamic. I imagine Hambleton, brush in hand, coaxing forms from the material, adding to and subtracting until the image appears. The physicality of the paint is so present here, with each stroke carrying the weight of intention. See how the paint, thick in some areas and thin in others, creates a sense of depth and movement. The orange gestures communicate an intense feeling; they might suggest a storm, a fire, or some kind of profound transformation. This piece resonates with other painters who embrace the materiality of paint, such as Gerhard Richter or Joan Mitchell. Artists engage in a constant conversation across time, inspiring one another's creativity. Painting is a form of embodied expression, a dance between intention and accident, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings.