Ben Nicholson, O.M. (1894-1982)

In his introduction to the 1971 exhibition catalogue, Norbert Lynton comments 'the reliefs are patently a combination of the early, "pure" reliefs and of painting on canvas. For Nicholson painting has always meant visual and physical texture. Thus the lines in the recent reliefs (except where it is inseparably part of texture) is not merely a function of the relief but also announces changes of colour, as in painting, and at times reaches graphic swiftness and ease. Colours range from that of the board itself, sometimes as the deep note in a chord, to astonishingly vivid patches of blue, red or green, material too of course but signalling all sorts of other experiences. "I have the impression [Nicholson has said recently] that many people think of colour as 'bright' colour, but what is more beautiful than the natural 'inner' colour of wood and stone? At any rate there must be available the full range of colour from that of stone or wood to the brightest and most pungent colour imaginable"' (see exhibition catalogue, Ben Nicholson New Reliefs, Marlborough Fine Art, London, 1971, p. 7).