Morning on the Tarmac 1941

Eric Ravilious made this limpid watercolour, 'Morning on the Tarmac', at some unknown date during his time as a war artist. The crisp lines and subdued palette of greys and blues create a scene that feels both precise and dreamlike. I wonder what Ravilious thought about while painting these planes, each a symbol of modernity, sitting on the tarmac, ready for flight. The reflections in the water give a sense of doubling, of potential, of a world both real and mirrored. What does the blurriness mean? The way he renders the light feels so delicate, almost as if he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment. Ravilious’s work often has this quality of quiet observation and reflection. Like Edward Hopper, he saw poetry in the mundane. He invites us to pause and consider the world around us, its beauty and its complexities, inviting us to bring our own associations, feelings, and memories to bear.