Object size: 43.8 x 54.6 cm
In one of few, rare departures from his solitary landscapes, Lim turns his attention to human activities along the river. In this painting, there are visible traces of Lim’s quick outlines of the figures and forms using a Flo-Master felt tip. Lim’s sketches of human figures have a stylistic brevity without negating their proportion and expressive postures, highlighting his strong draughtsmanship and sharp observational skills. The stronger, bolder lines in the makeshift stall enhance a perception of depth against the thin-lined boats and buildings in the distance. Lim often made figure studies in his sketchbooks even though his outdoor paintings, largely inspired by the English landscape convention, the figures are often minute embellishments.
