Fishing

Mary Viola Paterson 1899 - 1981

Summary

It is the group of men who are all standing in a row along the embankment of a river that animate this composition. All of the men are wearing similar clothes – a large coat, trousers and hat – but they are all depicted in different poses as they either talk to one another, lean against the edge of the river, look out into the water or concentrate on their fishing. Many of them are holding fishing rods and the majority of them have their back to the viewer as they turn towards the river. Their shadows cast interesting shapes along the pavement behind them as the light falls from the top right. All of the other details in the composition also relate to the river which runs horizontally across the middle ground. On the river there are two boats, one that is larger and looks like a barge, and another that is close to the opposite bank and has a man fishing in it. On the left there is an arched bridge crossing the river and leading to the opposite bank, which is lined by bare-branched trees and buildings. The most prominent building has its main façade directly opposite the bridge and is a grand, classical building. None of the other buildings are depicted so clearly or with as much detail although steeples are visible.