Portrait of a Woman 1922

Maggie Laubser made this portrait using oil paint, likely in her studio. The brushstrokes are direct, almost blunt, building up a solid, blocky form. I can imagine her standing in front of the canvas, squinting, deciding where the light hits and how to build up the shadows. It's interesting to think about what Laubser was considering as she applied each stroke. The ochre and salmon tones of the skin are offset by the deep blacks and browns of the sitter’s hair and clothing. A particular stroke of turquoise near the collarbone feels deliberate, a flash of unexpected color that enlivens the whole composition. Maybe she was thinking about the Fauves? Painters are always looking at what other painters do and trying to work it out. Each painting is part of an ongoing conversation. It's a kind of call and response across time and place, a constant push and pull between what we know and what we hope to discover.