Small Head of Jean (Jean Bratby, née Cooke, b.1927) 

John Bratby’s "Small Head of Jean", a portrait of his wife, is realized through thick impasto, giving the painting a tactile quality. Bratby applied paint with palpable force, creating a craggy, uneven surface. This technique, rooted in the Expressionist tradition, allowed him to capture not just a likeness, but the very essence of his subject. The materiality of the paint itself becomes a language. The heavy impasto and visible brushstrokes reveal the labor involved in the painting's creation. Bratby's engagement with the medium speaks to a broader social context, moving away from the polished surfaces and illusionism of traditional portraiture. By emphasizing the physicality of paint, Bratby democratizes the art-making process, showing the working methods of the artist. This piece stands as a testament to the expressive potential of humble materials.