Garden Green

Artist Norah McGuinness (1903 - 1980)

Date1962

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions101.6 x 71.1 cm

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineCollection & image © Hugh Lane Gallery. Donated by the Contemporary Irish Art Society, 1962. © The Estate of Norah McGuinness.

Object number1197

DescriptionNorah McGuinness received her early art education in Derry and at the Metropolitan School of Art where her tutors included Patrick Tuohy and Harry Clarke. In 1929 she studied in Paris under André Lhote who expounded a decorative form of Cubism. McGuinness's investigation of the interrelationship between objects, depth and perspective is vibrantly and compellingly explored through the still life subject matter of Garden Green. Everyday objects - a cooking pot, two bottles, cup and saucer, spoon as well as a potato and lemon - seem to sit precariously on a two-dimensional table before an open window.

McGuinness's use of blocks of closely related colour tones reflects the stylistic forms of Cubism. The verdant forms are further enlivened by pure, almost luminous areas of white, where the eye is led from the tablecloth further up the picture plane to the white dress of the young girl in the garden. The rigour of the geometric forms is mitigated by the lushness of the colours and charming details such as the climbing roses outside the windowpane. McGuinness was a prominent member of Dublin art society holding the position of Chairwoman of the Living Art Exhibition for twenty-eight years. (JO'D)

The treatment of the table top still life is similar to the contemporary studies of the same subject-matter by William Scott

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