Untitled (Landscape) 1955

This watercolour landscape was painted by Albert Namatjira, though we don't know exactly when. The paint is applied in such thin washes that the white of the paper shimmers through, like light flickering on the surface of water. It's a process of layering that gives a real sense of depth, pulling the eye into the far distance. Up close, you can see how Namatjira built up the forms of the rocks and trees with tiny strokes of color, almost like he’s knitting the scene together. He’s not trying to trick you into thinking this is a photograph; instead, he’s showing you how he sees and feels this place, mapping its rhythms. It’s interesting to compare Namatjira’s approach with that of someone like, say, Cézanne, who was also obsessed with capturing the essence of a landscape through color and form. Both artists remind us that painting is a way of thinking and feeling, a way of making sense of the world around us.