Pumpkin leaves drooping 1926

Grace Cossington Smith made this painting of pumpkin leaves with oil paint. Look at how she builds up a field of vision, not with conventional perspective, but with these distinct, rhythmic marks. It makes me think about how Smith approached the canvas—maybe she started with a basic structure, then let the painting grow organically, a little bit at a time. The marks create a dense, almost tactile surface. See how the greens shift from lighter, almost yellow greens to deeper, darker shades? There's an energy in the application of the paint, like she’s trying to capture the very essence of the leaves. The brushstrokes are so consistent, it's like she's laying down the conditions of the painting. The way Smith simplifies the forms reminds me of the Post-Impressionists. Artists are always learning from each other, building on the past to create something new. For Smith, painting was maybe a way of seeing, thinking, and feeling. It’s not just about depicting the leaves, but about the experience of being there, in that moment.