Marianne North Gallery, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, United Kingdom
The painting 'A Piece Of Sugarcane' by Marianne North (1870) depicts a single piece of sugarcane placed horizontally across the frame. It appears to be a very simple subject but the closer we look,the more detailing we see in this painting. The cane has three sections with visible parting and Marianne North has used shades of purple, green, yellow, blue and brown across the cane rather than using a single colour which gives it a lot of depth and realism. The brushstrokes are quite evident specially in the edges and background which makes it look so natural. The background which represents a rocky surface, on which the sugar cane rests, is the most intriguing and realistic here where the artist has played with light, shadow and texture. Rather than setting the painting in a landscape, the artist choses to focus and observe an insignificant yet beautiful element in her surroundings. Additionally, the close up view of the cane makes an ordinary object feel more important than it usually would. The painting shows us how much of an observer the artist is and her eye for detail, allowing us to view the painting through the artist's lens which is what makes such an ordinary object's paintings captivating and visually rich.
Marianne North’s painting of sugar cane transforms an ordinary piece of plant material into an interesting study of colour, texture, and form. The cane is shown as a partially chewed piece, making it resemble a simple still-life object. Rather than using one flat shade of green, North combines subtle tones of purple, yellow, green, blue, and brown across the surface. These varied colours create depth and make the cane appear more natural and three-dimensional. The rough, uneven end contrasts with the smoother sections of the stalk, adding to its realistic appearance. Visible brushstrokes are also evident throughout the painting.
