The Pond, West Indies

Painter and critic John Lyman, who saw Morrice often in Paris, considered The Pond, West Indies to be the artist’s masterpiece. The fact that this mature work is based on a postcard brought back from Cuba rather than a drawing from nature in no way detracts from its beauty. Morrice made a monumental synthesis of the image by adding figures that alter the scale. The technique employed gives the paint layer the transparency of watercolour.