Jean with a Bicycle 1955

John Bratby made "Jean with a Bicycle" with paint, and I get the sense that he really went for it. This is not delicate work. What strikes me most is the physicality of the medium; the paint is applied thickly, almost aggressively, creating a textured surface that begs to be touched. The way the white highlights on the bike's saddle are rendered, they're almost sculptural. Bratby’s choice of colors feels deliberate, not necessarily naturalistic, but chosen for their emotional impact. It reminds me of some of the German Expressionists, like Kirchner, who used color and form to convey intense feelings. Maybe this work is about the relationship between the figure and the bicycle, but maybe it is just about the paint? Art doesn’t always have to provide easy answers; sometimes, it’s enough to revel in the questions it raises.