George Shaw

I saw a Shaw the other day in Birmingham in a new accquisitions show, this was the first time I'd seen one since his Ikon show. They suffer very much in reproduction I feel. Looking at one for real I'm struck by an overwhelming admiration for the technique, it seems to pay reference to the pre raphaelite work in the next gallery. It appears at first glance unerringly precise in its vision, almost forensic but its not ,this is most definitely about paint and its application in a particular way.Looking at an old catalogue i am struck by the difference between these painings and the preparatory sketches which are much much looser.