Schoolgirls 1954

Charles Blackman's "Schoolgirls" is a painting that captures a sense of unease, maybe made with oils or acrylics on canvas. The palette is muted, almost melancholic, dominated by blues, browns, and greens, which creates a dreamlike atmosphere. The texture of the painting seems smooth, with subtle brushstrokes blending the colors together. I like how the figures in the foreground are painted with a simplicity that gives them an otherworldly quality. Their eyes, wide and staring, connect us directly. These glances are central to the picture. In the background, there's this other girl with a dog, all done with quick, confident strokes. It's like she’s moving through a different world, separate from the girls in the foreground, which adds to the painting's strange, unsettling vibe. This reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, and her ability to find humanity in simplicity. Blackman's “Schoolgirls” offers no easy answers.