Ben Nicholson – Composition, 1972

A pioneer of abstract art in Britian, Ben Nicholson’s dedication to Modernism was profound. Though he began painting traditional still lifes and landscapes in England, an early-career visit to Paris and introduction to Cubism drastically altered the course of his career. Nicholson's exposure to Picasso’s work inspired him to incorporate abstract elements into his compositions, and soon to abandon representational art altogether. His later friendships with Braque and Mondrain taught Nicholson to paint with geometric lines - which he soon translated into relief carving.

Medium: Pencil and oil wash
Date: 1972
Dimensions: 16.5 x 33cm
Sign: Signed on the reverse