Dimensions: support: 1397 x 1079 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: This is Walter Sickert's portrait of Sir Alec Martin. The visible brushstrokes make me wonder about the process of its creation. What stands out to you? Curator: The materiality of Sickert's painting demands attention. Notice the thick application of paint. How does the tangible nature of the medium itself contribute to the overall impact of the work, and perhaps, reflect on the subject's own relationship with labor and production? Editor: That's interesting! I hadn’t considered that. So, it's not just about the subject, but about how it's made, too. Curator: Precisely. The 'how' is integral to understanding the 'what' and 'why' of art. Consider Sickert's techniques compared to his contemporaries – how does his approach challenge conventions?
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/sickert-sir-alec-martin-kbe-t00221
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Sickert's late portraits were nearly all executed from photographs. They were usually of public figures viewed informally, as in the portraits of Sir Alec Martin, his wife and their son. These paintings were all based on photographs taken by Sickert's wife, Thérèse Lessore. Sir Alec, chairman of Christie's until 1958, was Sickert's friend and executor. In the early 1930s he had come to Sickert's aid financially. Gallery label, August 2004
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