Seated nude

In the introduction to the first monograph on the artist's work, published in 1925 and covering the period 1920-25, Hubert Wellington remarked: 'Gertler has become convinced that for his own personal salvation he must start afresh to paint what he sees and what he loves in nature ... He has naturally chosen work from his latest period since about 1920 to represent him here. It shows a determination to realise the form, colour and texture of his subject matter with the greatest possible completeness. Forms are made full and continuous and local colour kept rich and undisturbed. The craftsmanship is assured and scrupulous, a very personal technique of small accumulated touches yields very handsome surface qualities and renders varied textures with an almost disquieting realism: disquieting because it tends to obscure the interest in pattern and architectural design'.