Rain 1989

"Rain" by Howard Hodgkin is an abstract painting, full of atmosphere. Looking at it, I can almost feel the act of painting itself. The colours aren't mixed so much as they're laid next to each other – greens, blues, pinks, all framed by this dark grey border. I think Hodgkin was really feeling it, layering the paint, letting the colours vibrate against each other. That big blue brushstroke, like a curtain of water, feels so free and expressive. There's a push and pull between control and chance, a conversation between colours that feels almost musical. He’s right there with the greats like Bonnard or Matisse, using colour to evoke mood, memory, sensation. Painting is like that – an ongoing dialogue across time, with each artist riffing off the others, adding their own voice to the mix. Hodgkin invites us to look, to feel, to participate in this visual dance.