Zulu woman – unfinished symphony 1941

George Pemba made this watercolour painting of a Zulu woman. It’s full of movement, the artist is thinking through paint, not afraid to leave lines exposed, revealing his process. I can imagine Pemba’s brush dancing across the surface, trying to capture the essence of his sitter. Look at the geometrical patterning on her top. Each tiny shape seems to vibrate with its own energy, like musical notes forming a melody. He’s searching, isn’t he? For the right colours, the right balance. The background is just a few sketchy lines, unfinished, maybe he wanted to keep the focus on the figure herself, her quiet dignity. You know, painting is like having a conversation across time, a conversation between artists. Pemba, like all of us, was part of a long, ongoing exchange. And it's never really finished is it? It's an unfinished symphony.