Xhosa maiden 1957

George Pemba made this painting, *Xhosa maiden*, in 1957 with what looks like pretty direct and expressive brushwork. You can see it in the way he models the figure, it's so free. The surface is built up with layers, a real dance of color, capturing a moment in time. Look at the paint, it's not trying to hide anything. It's like Pemba’s saying, “Here it is, the stuff of art, right on the surface!” There’s a casualness and immediacy to the mark-making, especially in the landscape. Then there's the detailing on the skirts and headscarf, built up with tiny dashes of impasto. The creamy blues of the beads are just gorgeous, set against the warm brown skin. Pemba had a thing for the everyday, elevating it to something monumental. He reminds me a little of someone like Jacob Lawrence, both using these flattened perspectives, vibrant color, and narratives of ordinary life. It's the kind of art that reminds you that there is no real "end" point to a piece. It’s just a moment when you decide to let it go.