The Village Genius
James Smetham's work is often small in scale, in his youth he made a living as a travelling painter, making portraits and recording scenes of everyday life. He is also known for his writings, such as his 'Knowledge Books' which reveal an almost obsessive desire to record the world he saw about him. The snatched glimpse of a country scene in The Village Genius is typical of Smetham's perception of life; like the boy in the picture, he seizes the opportunity to sketch figures. The graffiti are not quite so 'innocent' as they might first appear. The crow on the wall bears an uncanny resemblance to the approaching figure of authority, perhaps a schoolmaster? The mouse hole and the strange use of shadows contribute an enigmatic element to this lively sketch.
