Untitled 1925

Rita Angus made this unnamed painting with oil on canvas and its full of what looks like, really energetic strokes. The colours are muted, almost like a memory of a place. I keep thinking about what it means to paint a scene like this, an industrial landscape with a lone figure toiling away. It feels like a moment captured, but also a statement about labour and the human condition. The brushstrokes are visible, raw, and honest, like the work being done. The artist embraces the physicality of the paint, letting it build up in layers, creating texture and depth. Notice how the pale hues of the sky bleed into the earthy tones of the ground, creating a sense of unity. And that little spark of light in the center? It feels like a symbol of hope, or maybe just a reminder that even in the most challenging circumstances, there's always a glimmer of something more. I see echoes of Cezanne here, in the way she builds form with colour, but with a sensitivity all of her own.