Schoolgirl Reading 1954

Charles Blackman made this "Schoolgirl Reading" painting with oils, in a way that feels like a memory, or a half-forgotten dream. The painting’s surface is smooth, almost like it's been buffed. There's a subtle build-up of paint, not too thick, but enough to catch the light, especially in the girl's hat. It's a limited palette, mostly muted greens and grays, which gives it a kind of melancholic feel. The girl’s hat and the pages of her book are the brightest spots in the painting, as though she’s so caught up in reading that she glows. Notice that small area of white paint that represents her face, peeking out behind the book - it’s such a small touch but it brings the whole painting to life. Blackman reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, who also used simple forms to capture a sense of inner life. Both artists seem to be after the feeling of a thing, rather than its exact likeness. Art isn't just about what we see; it's about what we feel and remember.