Autumn, Kensington Gardens c. 1906

Editor: This is Paul Maitland's "Autumn, Kensington Gardens," currently residing in the Tate Collections. The lack of vivid color gives it quite a somber mood. What do you see in the way the artist uses light and shadow here? Curator: The painting deftly explores the interplay between vertical and horizontal axes. Note the stark contrast in tonal values. How the artist uses the verdant plane as a stage for a rhythmic, almost musical, arrangement of tree trunks. Editor: So, the composition itself creates a sense of depth and perspective? Curator: Precisely. The subtle variations in the application of pigment animate the surface. The eye is drawn to the way that the artist plays with formal elements. Editor: I appreciate your emphasis on the composition itself. It encourages a new way of appreciating the work. Curator: Indeed. Understanding structure illuminates the artist's intent.