A 1939 watercolour by Eric Ravilious depicting a tea table set in the Sussex countryside, characterised by the artist's signature stippled technique.

Tea at Furlongs, painted by Eric Ravilious in 1939, captures a quiet moment at the cottage of Peggy Angus in the South Downs. The composition features a table set for tea, positioned behind a flint wall, with a parasol providing shade. Beyond the wall, the rolling Sussex countryside stretches toward the horizon, rendered with the distinctive stippled brushwork that defines the artist's mature style.

Ravilious employed a precise, graphic approach to watercolour, often using a dry-brush technique to build texture and form. The flint wall, a common feature in the region, is depicted with a rhythmic pattern of marks that contrasts with the smooth, flat planes of the table and the distant fields. The parasol acts as a vertical anchor, drawing the eye across the scene while creating a sense of domestic intimacy within the expansive outdoor setting.

This work reflects the artist's fascination with the intersection of human activity and the natural environment. The absence of figures suggests a pause in time, inviting the viewer to consider the stillness of the afternoon. Ravilious was a master of capturing the specific light and atmosphere of the English countryside, often imbuing his subjects with a sense of quiet observation. His work remains a significant contribution to twentieth-century British art, demonstrating a unique ability to balance decorative pattern with representational clarity. The palette is restrained, relying on soft blues, greys, and earthy tones to evoke the temperate climate of the Downs. This print offers a clear view of the artist's technical skill and his ability to transform a simple domestic scene into a composed, thoughtful image.