Artwork
The Quarrel
The Quarrel is a watercolor work on paper by John Henry Amshewitz. It dates from 1950 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Quarrel is a watercolour painting created by John Henry Amshewitz in 1950. It is a signed work on the front, with an incomplete pencil sketch on the reverse.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts four elderly individuals in a dimly lit, cramped space, conveying a sense of quiet conflict. The characters' tense postures and worn, simple clothing suggest a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Amshewitz employed soft, muted colours and loose brushstrokes to capture the mood of the scene, prioritising emotional expression over detailed representation.
History & Provenance
The work is signed on the front and features an unrelated pencil sketch on the reverse, depicting a partially clothed man with a moustache.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Henry Amshewitz painted quiet dramas in watercolour around the early 1900s, often setting tense or tender human moments inside ordinary rooms or streets.
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