RSA Scottish Art
Hallowe’en
 | Artist: William Stewart MacGeorge |
| Title: Hallowe’en | |
| Year: c. 1911 | |
| Medium: oil on canvas | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Suggested topic: | |
| Source: RSA Diploma Collection | |
| View full screen image of this work | |
| Open print version of this work | |
| Description: William MacGeorge often painted gentle, pastoral landscapes with children as a recurring feature. Halloween presents a group of children out playing the role of guisers at night. Although there is a hint of a woodland background, the children's faces and their turnip lanterns are the main subjects of this painting. The artist has used dramatic tonal contrasts to create atmosphere and suspense. The mood of the painting describes a complex mix of emotions. Some of the children look reflective and thoughtful, others are searching the darkness fearfully, while the rest look playful and happy. The skilful tonal balance allows us to see some features in the evening gloom and the shining lanterns create dramatic highlights on the faces. The children look unusual because of the deep shadows under their eyes - normally we see faces illuminated from above and these shadows are seldom seen. It is no accident that the right side of the painting is dark, showing the children moving into the unknown. The spookiness of Hallowe'en is shown here but so is the fun and excitement - the feeling that anything could happen. Perhaps the dark woods represent the place where our fears live. Have you ever made an artwork which expresses your fears about something?The artist has used paint techniques to reinforce the meaning of his work.The foreground of the painting is executed with flowing, linear strokes. The direction of these brush marks on the clothing lead upwards towards the lights and faces, directing the viewer's eye to the line of heads. The dark, wooded background is more textured with dabs of thickly applied paint. He has deliberately kept the background dark and neutral to act as a backdrop to the drama in the foreground. It is quite theatrical but also magical. | |
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