Launching The Currach 1911

Paul Henry captured this scene of men launching a currach sometime in the first half of the 20th century, probably in oil paint. The muted palette really sets the mood, it’s a kind of silvery, grey-blue day with a dash of warmth in the sand and figures, painted with such loose, gestural brushstrokes. You can almost feel the spray of the water. Look at the way the dark strokes under the boat reflect the figures, becoming these spindly, broken lines, it’s like the whole scene is teetering on the edge of the water, about to dissolve. There’s a real sense of immediacy, like Henry captured a fleeting moment. The paint isn’t overworked; it's thick in places, thin in others, allowing the texture of the canvas to peek through. It’s raw, honest. You can see echoes of artists like Courbet in Henry’s work, but he brings his own sensibility to the canvas. It’s a painting that invites you to slow down, to breathe in the salty air, and to contemplate the rhythms of life on the coast.