Ascot Finery 1938

Laura Knight made "Ascot Finery" in oil, and looking at it, I'm struck by how she builds up the scene with these lively, broken strokes. It’s all about the act of painting, the way she fearlessly lays down color. The surface is alive. Take a look at the red dress; Knight uses these energetic daubs of paint, almost like she's sketching with her brush. It's not about a smooth finish, but capturing a sense of light, movement, and feeling, which are not precise at all. Notice the two figures holding hands. It’s as if the artist is trying to capture something fleeting, a moment of connection. Knight reminds me a bit of Degas, who painted dancers with a similar immediacy. But she’s her own thing too. The joy is in how she embraces ambiguity, inviting you to interpret and feel the scene, rather than just seeing it.