Three Veiled Figures 1933

Wyndham Lewis made this painting, Three Veiled Figures, with oil on canvas. The first thing that grabs me is the colour – it’s like a muted symphony of earth tones, a world seen through sepia-tinted glasses. The way Lewis builds up the figures is really interesting. You can see the brushstrokes, thick and deliberate, especially around the edges of the figures where the lines are almost hard, creating these angular, geometric forms. The paint isn't trying to hide itself; it's part of the story. Look at the figure on the left, where the veil drapes, the way the paint catches the light. It's almost sculptural, isn't it? Lewis reminds me a bit of early Picabia, who also played with form and representation in really inventive ways. Both artists were part of this moment where everything was up for grabs, and painting was a way to ask questions, not just answer them. Lewis invites us to do the same.