Wine
circa 1909
This picture
perfectly illustrates the joys of laziness. For some, with the help of alcohol,
doing absolutely nothing brings about an amazing feeling of satisfaction -
which is what this young worker is experiencing. In his mind he is the epitome of
coolness. Consider his gestural swag; his grope around the shapely wine
vessel; and the strategically-placed clump of grapes resting in his lap. This
man is a modern Bacchus.
Brangwyn's style
elucidates well the theme of drunkenness: his lines and strokes of oil paint
literally quiver and drool across the canvas. About to nod off into a
solid sleep, the main figure sees everything doubled and swaying to the
movement of his own instability. We, too (the viewers), sense this instability as
we take in the claminess of his taut body and the rich summer-time haze,
typical of late evenings and warm rains and breezes. Brangwyn's works never
seem to be entirely dry, but always a bit wet as if just completed. His wine
vessel in particular has a lucent quality that almost rivals the infamous jugs
of Diego Velázquez.
These men are rough.
Their faces and forearms are burnt with laborious months under the heavy sun while
their torsos, having been protected, retain a fresh, pink whiteness. With
unkempt hair and sweat-stained clothes they form a picture of the everyday.
They exude a completeness, a satisfaction, that is often overlooked in common
jobs.
