Sun Place

Notes

The present lot is an example of the impasto paint application and commanding forms that typically make up Brian Bradshaw’s sweeping landscapes. The British-born artist played an influential role in shaping painting in the Eastern Cape, following his appointment as the Chair of Fine Arts at Rhodes University in 1960 and his founding of the ‘Grahamstown Group’ in 1964.

In Sun Place, vibrant hues of yellow are layered to form the steep terrain Bradshaw envisions. Washes of green and blue lead the eye to a gentle horizon in the background, and dashes of purple and blue are littered across the rolling hills. Bradshaw’s expressive gestures add texture to the sunlit scene, while his striking use of colour evokes the power, energy and renewal that the sun’s warmth promises. As with the artist's other landscape paintings, the present lot quietly beckons a reflection on place and belonging.