Florence Rodway
In the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2019, I discovered Florence Rodway. A little-known Tasmanian artist from the early 1900’s, her works were just beautiful. This piece, in a quiet corner, was utterly spellbinding. I stood marvelling at it for a long time.
What was it that I loved so much?
Firstly, it was such a relief to see a piece of art so dignified and restrained. I find assertive, sexual, edgy & political art so demanding, so hackneyed. I'm tired of looking at paintings that work on the viewer to stimulate, titillate, and confuse. This piece had the opposite effect. It filled me up and gave me something necessary and nourishing. It had a quiet, spiritual presence. If it asked anything, it asked that I stop and remember: simplicity is beautiful. Small, quiet things are beautiful. Small hints of light, the well drawn gesture of a hand, the subtle capture of a certain gaze.
I find the writing the word look unfitting: I didn’t so much look at this portrait as listen.
Secondly, it was just delicious to feast my eyes on Rodway’s skills. Take a second look at he soft, restrained lights on the hair and the pink sheen on the skin. It is such a wonderful synthesis of drawing mastery and control of tone and colour. I wish you could see it in person.
I know there are many, many beautiful portraits in the world. Of course, being there is different to seeing it on the screen. But, believe me: this portrait had a presence and changed my whole day. Florence did other wonderful portraits (see a small selection below) mostly in pastel. It's such a shame that she is almost unheard of- I think she was brilliant.
‘Woman in Shawl’
‘The Romanian blouse’, 1912
‘Toffee’
Portrait, 1916