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Schoolmates, ca. 1884

  • oil paint, canvas
  • 118.2 x 91.6 cm
  • Inv. 1892-B

Public Domain

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James Guthrie painted Schoolmates in Cockburnspath, the Scottish village where he lived from 1883 onwards. He lived among the villagers, and their rural lifestyle became the subject of his paintings. In keeping with the naturalistic style of the times Guthrie avoided anecdote in his work and observed his surroundings in a manner that was very down-to-earth. The depiction exudes a natural simplicity in which the children bear their poverty proudly and with spirit. They stare straight ahead and have no contact with one another. Their individual isolation is further emphasised by their portrayal in profile. The daily journey to and from school therefore becomes something of a ritual. The children’s clothing, the country lane and the landscape are all painted very loosely, while the faces are depicted realistically and with a photographic attention to detail.

Artist

James GuthrieRKD
Greenock 1859 - Rhu 1930
painters (artists)AAT

TitleSchoolmates
Date ca. 1884
Period19th century
LocationCockburnspathTGN
Signatures, inscriptions, and markings signatures (names) bottom left: JAMES GUTHRIE
CollectionpaintingsAAT
Object type oil paintings (visual works) AAT
Inventory number1892-B
Acquisition credit purchase
salon
Ghent
1892
Current whereaboutsWork on display
Permalinkhttps://mskgent.be/collection/work/data/1892-B
IIIF Manifesthttps://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/79/manifest.json