MARY SWANZY (1882-1978)
The White House, c. 1924
Oil on canvas
Collection of Brian P. Burns

The White House

In 1919 her friend Sarah Purser described Swanzy's work as "essentially modern...[with] a freshness of color and impression...invigorating and optimistic." As her style evolved, she came to be seen as "a Surrealist working in a Cubist convention" and in 1932 the Morning Post described her painting as "an illustration of a disordered dream."

The work seen in this exhibition, The White House, was painted during her time in Samoa. As in her other work from this period, there is an obvious swiftness and freshness in the bold brush strokes. At first glance there seems almost a flat wash of clear colors. However, a longer gaze reveals subtle shading and tonal changes which give a sense of the many layers of diverse, interlocking vegetation of a tropical climate. The complex, interlaced vegetation parts reluctantly to reveal the suggestion of a small white house, bright against the greens, blues, and shadowy violets of the forest. Almost completely veiled from view, the small structure is intimately with the embracing forest.