tree painted without artificial light
oil on board, 183mm x 130mm

Sales Enquiry

 

background : an oak tree on the edge of vision

This painting was made on the spot at night in winter, when there was no moonlight. When painting at night artists usually use some form of artificial light to brighten the painted surface, so that it at least matches the light level in the surrounding landscape. In this case no such light was used, so the artist saw only very low ambient light reflected from the board. In low light resolution drops : only large marks are visible. The yellow spot was a plane.

The painting represents an oak tree on the very edge of the painters vision. Seen in a room in low evening light the rough paint textures visible in daylight coalesce back to the apparition the painter saw at night.

Historical : Before the invention of electric light painters and collectors spoke about how well a painting would "go out" - meaning how well it looked in low room light before candles were lit. In the 1820's John Constable's patron Archdeacon Fisher wrote to the artist that his newly acquired "White Horse" (now in the Frick in New York) went out well.