Rotherhithe

This view of Rotherhithe riverbank at low tide shows the build up of both houses and moored boats in the area. The scene includes barges, lighters, steamers and a jetty.

Despite rooting his composition in reality, Duncan seems to have been pursuing other aims in this painting: the oblique viewpoint, the clutter of boats and the flimsiness of the timber structure in the foreground all combine to create a sense of precariousness and vulnerability. This perception is in direct contrast with the imposing appearance of the warehouses and industrial buildings along the Thames. The bold application of paint and the areas of unpainted canvas recall the style of the painter André Derain, although Grant's colours are far more subdued.

Closely affiliated with the Bloomsbury group, Grant was also a member of the Camden Town Group and the London Group. He became director of the artist Roger Fry's Omega Workshops and was well-known for his decorative designs, as well as portraits and landscape paintings.