William Theo Brown

We come from Brown’s show with a strong aftertaste of nature philosophy; of seas that are Life, symbolical white horses, and nude figures that are generic types of motherhood, fatherhood and childhood. These feelings come specifically from his heavily finished work. Here is something frozen in thickly painted shapes. Stilled gestures become symbolical. We cannot help feeling that he expresses a solemnity not native to him. When Brown discards his archetypes and paints in that looser manner that recalls Matisse bathers and dancers we find a sparkle and spontaneity that proves him more profound when less serious.

––William Wilson