Cast Iron Dobbie c. 1936

Rex F. Bush, sometime in the 20th century, made this painting called 'Cast Iron Dobbie', and I reckon he had process in mind. There’s something very satisfying about the confident colours here. That mauve, it's almost like a red wine stain, paired with the creamy yellow of the waistcoat, and the pale grey of the base makes it so appealing. It’s very smooth, very even, and you can hardly see the brushstrokes. It's like the image has been poured onto the surface. The way the Dobbie stands, so poised and still, one hand in his pocket, reminds me of the work of Archibald Motley, particularly in his ability to create striking modern portraits. Yet there's also something uncanny about it, like a memory or a dream. It is this ambivalence, this balance between realism and something more elusive, that makes it so compelling.