James Range Country 1945

Albert Namatjira made this watercolor painting, James Range Country, and what strikes me is the way he coaxes such depth and space out of what seems like a limited palette. Look at the way the reddish browns of the foreground rocks bleed into the lavender and blue distance. It's like a masterclass in atmospheric perspective. And the brushwork! So delicate and precise, especially in the foliage of the tree. Each leaf is rendered with care, but not so much that it feels overworked. I'm reminded of how much the Group of Seven admired Namatjira’s work, there's a similar reverence for landscape, but Namatjira brings a distinctly different sensibility to it. His paintings aren't just about capturing a scene, they're about feeling the land, knowing its rhythms and subtleties. Art is an ongoing conversation, always riffing on what came before, and I love how Namatjira adds his own voice to the chorus.