Three Symbols 1930

Eileen Agar made this painting, Three Symbols, with oil on canvas. Look at that colour palette, pastel blues and pinks with zingy oranges and greens. The way Agar uses colour here reminds me of Léger, everything feels symbolic and yet so approachable.   The surface texture is so interesting here, you can really see the brushstrokes and the way she's layered the paint. It's not trying to hide anything; you can see the hand of the artist in every mark. I love the way she's used these broad, confident strokes to build up the forms, like the bridge at the bottom of the canvas. The paint is relatively thin, but the layers create a real sense of depth.   Overall, Agar’s work celebrates the joy of making, of putting paint to canvas and seeing what happens. What do you see? What do you feel? Don't be afraid to let the painting speak to you.