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Lot Essay
Jack B. Yeats was an avid storyteller, his later paintings vividly capture fleeting encounters between individuals. Through his paintings, novels, and plays, Yeats frequently explored the theme of travellers meeting on a road, allowing him to delve into the complexities of human relationships. In contrast to many of his works which depict transient encounters between male figures – such as Two Travellers (Tate) – The Sunset Belongs to You evokes a poignant moment of parting between a man and a woman. The relationship between the two figures is rendered through Yeats' expressive use of paint, which emphasises the dynamism of their postures. The stooped woman, who gazes towards the viewer, is enveloped by brushwork that suggests that her shawl is wrapped tightly around her. In contrast, the man stands tall, gazing into the distance as he prepares for his departure. Hilary Pyle suggests that the male figure may reference a character from an earlier painting, The Harvest Moon, describing him as ‘an adventurer… turning toward the west’ (H. Pyle, Jack Butler Yeats, A Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings, Vol. II, London, 1992, p. 718).
This work belongs to Yeats' highly sought-after later period, when his style became increasingly expressive, moving away from traditional representational conventions. The emotional depth of The Sunset Belongs to You is conveyed through the composition, which focuses on the two monumental figures set against a vast, blue sky. The simplicity of the landscape suggests an expansive, open world, symbolising the possibility of journey and change. The tactile, vibrant surface of the painting, created with a palette knife, gives the impression of sunset, which appears to be reflected in the woman’s shawl, while the flecks of yellow and red on the man’s hand and face imply that he, too, is reflected in the fading light. The drama of this present work lies in its ability to capture the emotional intensity of the present scene though expressive gestural means; a celebrated characteristic in Yeats’ later work that evokes empathy in the viewer.
This work belongs to Yeats' highly sought-after later period, when his style became increasingly expressive, moving away from traditional representational conventions. The emotional depth of The Sunset Belongs to You is conveyed through the composition, which focuses on the two monumental figures set against a vast, blue sky. The simplicity of the landscape suggests an expansive, open world, symbolising the possibility of journey and change. The tactile, vibrant surface of the painting, created with a palette knife, gives the impression of sunset, which appears to be reflected in the woman’s shawl, while the flecks of yellow and red on the man’s hand and face imply that he, too, is reflected in the fading light. The drama of this present work lies in its ability to capture the emotional intensity of the present scene though expressive gestural means; a celebrated characteristic in Yeats’ later work that evokes empathy in the viewer.