#norman garstin

MWW Artwork of the Day (2/3/22) Norman Garstin (Irish, 1847–1926) A Woman Reading a Newspaper (1891) Oil on wood, 25.4 x 21.6 cm. The Tate Gallery, London

Garstin's writings on art showed a well-developed sense of aesthetics, which is also shown in his subtle paintings and drawings which were usually made on small panels or pieces of paper. His art was more concerned with spatial arrangement and tonality than most of the other members of the Newlyn circle and the closest parallels can be found in the work of Whistler. Like Whistler and also Manet who he also admired, Garstin had learned much from study of Japanese art and this quality can be seen in the way he convincingly depicts depth and space in his compositions. He had a delightfully undogmatic theory about his art.