Untitled 1938

Grace Pailthorpe made this untitled painting, probably with oils, using a really interesting approach to color and form that feels like a journey of discovery. The painting has a kind of raw, direct feel - you can see the textures and the way the colors blend, or sometimes don't. Take a look at the bird-like form in the center. The way she's feathered it from blue to yellow to orange is so physical and bold. It's like she’s building this creature right in front of us with these strokes. The whole piece feels like a conversation between the conscious and unconscious. I see a relationship to Hilma af Klint in the way Pailthorpe uses abstract forms to express inner states, but with a more earthy and less mystical quality. It reminds us that art is not just about making something look good, but about exploring ideas, feelings, and the very act of creation itself.