The Artist's Ten-Year-Old Son 

John Bratby made this portrait of his son using oil paint, a material with a rich history in Western art. What's immediately striking is the thick, almost sculptural application of the paint itself. Bratby doesn't blend colors smoothly; instead, he builds up the surface with distinct strokes, creating a textured, almost raw quality. The materiality of the paint becomes part of the subject matter. This technique is key to understanding Bratby's artistic project. He was associated with Kitchen Sink Realism, a British art movement that challenged traditional art values. Rather than idealizing his subject, he portrays his son with an unvarnished honesty. The visible brushstrokes and unrefined colors mirror the everyday realities of postwar Britain, reflecting a democratic spirit which valued the ordinary. Bratby elevates a common subject to a work of art. His choice of materials and making is therefore important to the final work: blurring the lines between art and life.