By 1932 the Sydney moderns were in full swing with the opening of Dorrit Black’s Modern Art Centre. Encouraged by the mood and pace set by Black and other artists returning from Europe, Cossington Smith showed adventurous works at the Centre inspired by Paul Gauguin and Franz Marc. Her mentor at the time, Ethel Anderson, had long been an admirer of Gauguin’s work. Following the death of her mother, Cossington Smith’s visits to Anderson increased and she began to paint works informed by Gauguin, such as Landscape at Pentecost (road and trees) and Horses.