A modernist study of a breaking wave by Grace Cossington Smith, featuring rhythmic brushwork and a palette of cool blues and ochres.

Grace Cossington Smith, a pioneer of Australian Modernism, produced this study of a breaking wave in 1931. The work demonstrates her characteristic approach to light and form, where the subject is broken down into rhythmic, structured brushstrokes. Rather than seeking a photographic representation of the ocean, she focuses on the physical energy of the water through a series of layered, colour-coded marks. The composition is dominated by the curve of the wave, which occupies the lower two-thirds of the canvas. Cossington Smith employs a palette of cool blues, violets, and sandy ochres to define the crest and the foam. Each stroke is applied with deliberate direction, following the movement of the water as it curls and collapses. The upper portion of the painting suggests the receding tide or the wet sand of the shoreline, rendered in softer, more muted tones that contrast with the sharper, more defined edges of the wave itself. Cossington Smith was deeply influenced by Post-Impressionist techniques, particularly the use of colour to create structure. In this piece, the application of paint is rhythmic and repetitive, creating a sense of vibration across the surface. The artist often worked from her home in Turramurra, finding inspiration in the immediate environment. Her ability to translate the transient nature of light and movement into a solid, painterly form is evident here. The work remains a clear example of her transition towards a more abstract, analytical style during the 1930s, where the focus shifted from descriptive detail to the underlying geometry of the natural world.