Light, Colour and Storytelling: From Corot to Contemporary Wales

Light, Colour, and Storytelling: From Corot to Contemporary Wales

The quiet glow of a girl lost in her book. The relentless, foaming crash of a wave. These moments, centuries apart, speak to the power of light, colour, and storytelling in painting. At the Courtauld Gallery’s Goya to Impressionism exhibition, Corot’s Girl Reading is a masterclass in stillness. Soft, diffused light settles on the girl’s face, her concentration undisturbed, the warm tones of the painting enveloping her in quiet contemplation. There’s a timelessness to this scene—one that invites the viewer to slow down, to look more deeply.

The Shock of the Wave

Then comes the shock of Courbet’s Wave, a departure from his usual focus on portraits. The sea surges forward, thick with energy, the paint itself mirroring the movement of water. The light is dramatic, casting deep shadows, amplifying nature’s force. It struck me as unexpected—an artist known for human subjects turning to the wildness of the ocean.

Dynamic texture and dramatic light

Centuries later, these same qualities resonate in the work of Welsh artists. Jill Jones captures the energy of the sea with dynamic texture and dramatic light, while Pete Mattinson plays with chiaroscuro and soft illumination to create moody, introspective scenes. Their paintings echo Corot’s intimacy and Courbet’s raw power, proving that the interplay of light, colour, and emotion transcends time.

Art rewards slowness

Each of these works reminded me that the more I look, the more I see – not just paint on canvas, but the artist’s world, their choices, their motivations. Art rewards slowness, and in taking time, connection deepens.

New works on show at the Life: Full Colour gallery from 15th March

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