Playing Marbles
- Artist: Raymond Coxon
- Date: (circa) 1928
- Medium: oil on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the “Playing Marbles” by Raymond Coxon. Painted around 1928, this oil on panel captures a moment of quiet leisure that feels surprisingly modern for its time. Coxon, an English painter associated with the early 20th‑century modernist movement, often used simple, everyday scenes to explore light and form. In this work, the shallow depth of field pulls the viewer’s eye to a small group of brightly coloured marbles rolling across a wooden table. The brushwork is expressive yet controlled, with a loose handling that gives the marbles a sense of movement while the background remains subdued.
Notice the way Coxon plays with colour: the deep blues and greens of the marbles contrast sharply with the warm amber tones of the table. The light source is implied from the slightly darker rim of the marbles, creating a subtle play of shadows that adds volume. The panel supports a compact composition that feels both intimate and dynamic. Coxon’s choice of oil on panel, rather than canvas, lends the painting a rich, velvety texture, especially in the glistening surface of the marbles.
Overall, “Playing Marbles” invites us to pause and observe everyday objects in a new light, reminding us that the ordinary can be a gateway to unexpected beauty. The painting showcases Coxon’s skill in balancing realism and modernist abstraction, making it a compelling piece to explore.
See it in person
Playing Marbles hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
