Late Hay? (Field between the Yarmouth Road and Plumstead, Norfolk), 19 October 1983 1983

Editor: This is Colin Self's "Late Hay? (Field between the Yarmouth Road and Plumstead, Norfolk), 19 October 1983." It's a drawing, and it feels quite stark. What strikes you about the composition? Curator: The starkness you observe arises from Self's masterful manipulation of chiaroscuro. Observe how the tonal gradations delineate space and form. The strategic placement of the trees creates a visual rhythm, a sequence if you will, that directs the viewer's eye. Editor: So, the placement and shading are key to its effect? Curator: Precisely. Note the economy of line, the suggestive rather than descriptive approach. It invites the viewer to complete the image, engaging us in a dialogue with the artwork itself. Editor: I hadn’t considered that. I see it now!