Game of Skill 1933

Stephen Mopope painted this scene with watercolor, and you can feel the movement in the air. The players are aligned along the horizon like notes on a musical staff, and the one in motion, dark against the pale green, lunges forward, arm outstretched, throwing a spear. I'm always curious about the space in between the figures, the space between one mark and the next—the negative space. Look at how much empty green is in the middle of Mopope's painting; it makes the scene feel open and calm. The soft blue sky adds to the atmosphere of ease. I bet Mopope mixed a lot of water into his paint to get that effect! When you think about it, painting is also a game of skill, with the artist aiming for a particular feeling or effect. There’s a connection to the history of art here too: Mopope reminds me of Giotto in the way he flattened the figures, bringing his own spin to image-making. I love how all of these artists are in conversation!