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A highlight from our upcoming sale of Important Irish Art is Reflections (c.1930) by renowned Irish landscape painter Paul Henry, one of the most recognisable figures in early 20th‑century Irish landscape painting.
At first glance, the painting appears disarmingly simple: a group of traditional whitewashed cottages resting beside a lake, with the familiar silhouettes of the Connemara mountains rising gently behind them. Yet, as with so much of Henry’s work, the longer you linger, the more the painting reveals itself as a meditation on light, place, and stillness.
What is immediately striking in this composition is Henry’s decision to allow the lake to take centre stage. The water dominates, acting not merely as a foreground element but as a mirror that quietly doubles the world above it. The sky itself is barely visible as a physical presence, just a narrow band above the mountains, yet it lives fully within the painting through its reflection. This thoughtful balance of light and space is one of the hallmarks that makes Paul Henry’s paintings so enduring.
The cottages themselves, clustered modestly by the water’s edge, anchor the painting in human presence without disturbing its peace. Trails of smoke billow from the chimneys, curling upward into the clear air. This small but vital detail breathes life into the scene. These are not abandoned dwellings or romantic ruins; they are lived-in homes. Somewhere within those white walls, fires are lit, kettles are boiling, and daily life continues at an unhurried pace.
Behind the cottages, the soft rise of the Connemara mountains provides a protective, grounding presence. Rather than dramatic peaks, Henry paints them as gentle forms that cradle the scene, reinforcing a sense of belonging and quiet stability. Their muted tones echo the subtle palette that Henry mastered throughout his career, capturing the unique atmosphere of the West of Ireland.
Reflections endures because it captures something timeless about the West of Ireland; its light, its stillness, and its ability to feel both vast and intimate at once. It is a painting that does not demand attention, but gently rewards it; offering, like the lake itself, a calm space in which to pause and reflect.
This artwork will feature in our Important Irish Art auction taking place on Wednesday 25th March.
We are still accepting select entries for this auction, please feel free to contact me for a valuation or advice on selling.
Email: nicholas@adams.ie
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James Adam & Sons Ltd, Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, 26 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
D02 X665, Ireland
