Three Self-Portraits with a White Wall 1957

John Bratby made this oil painting, “Three Self-Portraits with a White Wall” with real energy, a kind of slathering and smearing that feels almost performative. The colour palette is like a muted explosion; earthy greens and browns clash with the stark whites and reds, creating a visual buzz. Up close, the paint is so thick, almost sculptural. You can see the tracks where the brush has been dragged across the canvas, the bristles leaving their imprint. Bratby doesn’t hide anything; the process is right there, laid bare. I love the way the wall, with its patterned wallpaper, seems to push forward, flattening the space. The multiple reflections of Bratby, each with his own cigarette, remind me of Philip Guston. This painting is a reminder that art is alive, always evolving, and resisting easy answers.