Art UK has updated its cookies policy. By using this website you are agreeing to the use of cookies. To find out more read our updated Use of Cookies policy and our updated Privacy policy.

1939 (painted relief)

© Angela Verren Taunt. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Photo credit: The Pier Arts Centre

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

This carved relief highlights Nicholson's interest in the formal construction of pictorial space. His arrangement of form and colour generates an ambiguous shallow space within the image, while the blue-greys and earth colours reflect the impact of the Cornish landscape.

Nicholson reintroduced colour to his reliefs after moving to Cornwall at the outbreak of the Second World War. Although he made carved reliefs throughout his career, it was the formal austerity of his earlier white reliefs that placed him in the vanguard of British modernism. Nicholson's association with important European modern artists such, as Mondrian, Gabo, Arp and Braque introduced their ideas into Britain. In 1937 Nicholson, Leslie Martin and Naum Gabo published 'Circle', a survey of Constructive art.

The Pier Arts Centre

Stromness

Title

1939 (painted relief)

Date

1939

Medium

oil on carved board

Measurements

H 91.4 x W 82.6 cm

Accession number

PAC 43

Acquisition method

gift from Margaret Gardiner, 1979

Work type

Painting

Inscription description

1. 'BELONGING TO / MARGARET GARDINER / BERNAL / 35 DOWNSHIRE HILL / LONDON / NW'. 2. 'TOP / ↑'. 3. 'TOP / ↑ / Ben Nicholson 1939-'. 4. 'cat 4 / 42 x 39" / [address label for Margaret Gardiner, partially erased by brown tape]'. 5. Lankam's [? script difficult to read] / please dispatch to the Director, / INSTITUTE OF CONTEPORARY ART / 16 Dover St, London W1 / by pass train / insure for £450'. 6. 'Nicholson / 7 Mall Studios / Parkhill, Rd NW3 London_'. 7. 'MARGARET GARDINER BERNAL / 35, DOWNSHIRE

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

The Pier Arts Centre

Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney Islands KW16 3AA Scotland

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue