Roses With Red Chair 1940

Horace Pippin painted "Roses With Red Chair" with oil on canvas, and I love how the colours are both gentle and punchy. They remind us that artmaking is always about a journey, a process of putting things together and seeing what happens. Looking closely, I see how Pippin has built up the surface, using thick paint to give the roses a real sense of volume and texture. The brushstrokes are visible, almost like he’s sculpting with the paint. I’m drawn to the red rose at the top, with its dark, almost black outline – it’s a bold choice that gives the whole painting a kind of graphic, edgy feel. The way the leaves are just sort of blocked in, they become these dark shapes that play against the softness of the roses. Pippin's been compared to Henri Rousseau, another artist who didn't have formal training, but who created these incredible, imaginative worlds on canvas. What I appreciate most is how Pippin embraces simplicity and allows his unique vision to shine through. It's a reminder that art doesn't need to be perfect to be powerful.