Blackheath, London 1953

John Bratby made "Blackheath, London" with oil paint on canvas. He's not holding back, is he? Look at the density of the paint; it's like he's sculpting with it. You can see the marks, the energy of the brushstrokes, especially in the sky. It’s a great example of process in painting. It feels less like a picture and more like something actually *happening*. There's a real tension between the indoors and the outdoors. That window isn't just a frame; it's almost a cage. The paint is thick, almost gloppy, particularly on the window frame. There are so many browns and greens, fighting to define what is inside and outside. But look at that small patch of white on the rooftops in the distance. It's like a little beacon, pulling you out into the world beyond. Bratby reminds me of Auerbach, who also loaded up his paint. Both painters capture a world that’s immediate and lived-in. Painting is like a visual language with each artist contributing their own accent and slang.