Ghost Gum 1948

Albert Namatjira made this watercolour painting, Ghost Gum, with delicate washes and close observation. I can imagine him, out in the landscape with his paper and brushes, trying to capture the light on that incredible ghost gum. The way he's layered the colors, it almost feels like you could reach out and touch the bark. And those mountains in the background, they feel so vast and ancient. He's part of a conversation with artists like Georgia O'Keeffe, you know, finding the monumentality in a single tree, really looking at nature and finding something magical there. Namatjira shows us how to really see a place, not just look at it, but feel it. It’s a generous way of sharing his country with us.