Wall Decoration c. 1939

John Collins made this wall decoration, probably with distemper on paper. It’s like he’s thought about how to make a repeating pattern, but he’s not too precious about it. The flowers and leaves seem to tumble across the surface, rather than fitting neatly into a grid, and there’s something quite lovely about the way they’re applied with a single, confident brushstroke. Look closely and you can see the texture of the paper coming through the thin paint layers. It’s got a kind of faded, vintage feel to it, like an old photograph. The colours are simple, muted - a pale yellow background with coral pink and black. But the way he's arranged them is what gives the piece its visual punch. It makes me think a little of Henri Matisse and his paper cut-outs, especially the way Collins uses simplified shapes to suggest natural forms. But there’s also something very unique and personal about this work, which is what makes it so appealing.