George Moore 1890 - 1891

Curator: Walter Sickert's portrait of George Moore, held here at the Tate, gives us a glimpse into the late 19th-century literary world. The green background feels quite unsettling. Editor: There’s a palpable looseness to the brushwork, almost like rough sketches in oil paint. The layering and the texture are really evident, it’s a very tactile painting. Curator: Sickert and Moore were both key figures in the aesthetic movement, challenging Victorian moralism through their art. This painting embodies their focus on capturing the individual, not just idealised beauty. Editor: I'm drawn to how the artist uses such direct application of paint. There is a tension created by the materiality here, it keeps the portrait grounded in the physical world. Curator: It certainly reflects the shift in artistic values at the time, from detailed realism to a more subjective, expressive style. It’s less about accuracy and more about conveying a mood, an essence. Editor: I see that push and pull between objective likeness and the artist's own engagement with materials. It's as much about paint as it is about Moore. Curator: A fascinating interplay to consider when looking at these portraits. Editor: Absolutely.