Ambivalence lies at the heart of Peter Booth’s power. 'Man in a Red Coat' exemplifies his rare ability to evoke profound psychological and existential questions without offering resolution. Disarmingly simple in composition yet unfathomable in intent, the work draws the viewer to the edges of human consciousness, where meaning remains elusive and deeply felt.

At almost two and a half metres wide, the painting’s monumental scale renders the brooding figure unavoidable, its presence both commanding and unsettling. The red coat becomes a charged focal point—at once symbolic and opaque—inviting sustained contemplation rather than easy interpretation.

Booth is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most intellectually rigorous painters, with works held in major public collections including the National Gallery of Victoria, which presented a landmark retrospective of his work in 2003–04. Man in a Red Coat stands as a quintessential Booth: sublime, impenetrable, and profoundly compelling.

Peter BOOTH (1940 - )
'Man in a Red Coat' 2008
oil on canvas
Image Size: 127 x 239 cm
Signed: signed and dated verso: Booth 2008

Comes with Letter of Provenance

Exhibited: Peter Booth, Rex Irwin Art Dealer, Sydney, 16 June - 11 July 2009, cat.1

Condition: Very Good: Describes a work of art's image as Excellent, but may show some small signs of surrounding wear to paper or frame. There are no tears to paper margin or disruption to the paint surface.

(c) Peter Booth / Copyright Agency