Figures in a bar

Sickert's celebrated painting, Ennui (Tate, 1914) stands as a precedent for this étude of bar-room anti-drama. Vaughan's monochromatic palette perfectly replicates the pallid character of the world-weary figures propping up this colourless bar. It was probably made from a pencil sketch completed in situ and then worked up later by the artist in the studio with additions of pen and ink and wash. Vaughan has also worked the background with more opaque white gouache mixed with ink.

We are very grateful to Gerard Hastings for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry. Gerard Hastings is currently working on a forthcoming book on Keith Vaughan, to be published in 2012, the artist's centenary year.