Deep Are The Roots 1945

Horace Pippin made this painting, Deep Are The Roots, with what looks like a humble selection of oil paint. The whole scene has this kind of stage-set feel. Look at the grass, it's not blended or fussy, just straightforward. The curtains are like dark pillars framing an uncertain view. The artist is not trying to trick you into thinking this is real. What’s interesting to me is that Pippin isn’t aiming for realism, yet somehow he's capturing a deeper emotional truth. The painting feels raw and direct. The way Pippin handles the paint is simple, and there’s a stillness about the scene as a whole that reminds me of the early American modernist painter, Edward Hopper. But where Hopper evokes a sense of urban alienation, Pippin’s work feels more personal, connected to his own experiences. In the end, it's the space between things – the unspoken narratives, the emotional undercurrents – that make this painting so compelling. It invites you to bring your own story to the scene.