Jean Reading 1953

John Bratby’s ‘Jean Reading’ is an oil painting, most likely dating from the 1950s. Look closely, and you’ll see the paint is applied thickly, almost aggressively, with a palette knife. This isn’t a smooth, blended surface, but a riot of contrasting colors and clashing tones. Bratby was associated with Kitchen Sink Realism – an art movement focused on the everyday. Unlike traditional portraiture, with its emphasis on flattering the sitter, Bratby presents Jean frankly, even brutally. Her pose is casual, almost slouching, and the setting is a cluttered, domestic space. It feels like a deliberate rejection of the slickness and polish promoted by consumer culture. This painting isn’t just about what is depicted, but how it is depicted. The rough, almost violent application of paint, speaks to a working-class sensibility. It celebrates the dignity of labor, not the artifice of the upper classes. Bratby’s approach demonstrates that the way something is made is as important as what it represents.