The Hibiscus 

Barrington Watson created this evocative painting, "The Hibiscus," using traditional oil paints and brushes. The materiality of oil paint, with its capacity for rich color and subtle gradations, allows Watson to render the woman's skin with warmth, and the folds of her shirt with a casual elegance. The brushstrokes themselves are evident, adding a tactile quality to the image. Oil painting has a long and loaded history, associated with the European old masters, and later, with academic traditions. Watson clearly draws on this history, but to his own ends, using the medium to explore Caribbean identity. The labor involved in oil painting is not just about technical skill; it’s about engaging with this history and bending it towards new meanings. Ultimately, paintings like this demonstrate how the choice of materials, and the conscious deployment of art-historical techniques, can reinforce a work’s significance.