The Sketchers 1930

Algernon Talmage created ‘The Sketchers’ with oil paint, and what strikes me first is how immediate the gestures seem, like he's really going for it. The surface has a real skin to it, doesn’t it? It's got all these thick, juicy marks, especially in those clouds, mixed with thinner, transparent washes in the foreground. Look closely and you can almost feel the bristles of his brush dancing across the canvas. The sky is all about movement and drama, built up with these confident strokes that create a sense of depth and atmosphere. Then you drop down to the earth and it's all a bit more muted, more grounded. There's a real tension between those two elements, the ethereal and the solid. The energy reminds me of Constable's cloud studies, but with a looser, more modern feel. It’s like Talmage is inviting us to witness the act of painting itself.