Paul Nash (1889-1946)

In his autobiography, Nash describes his early memories of the sea as 'cold and cruel waters usually in a threatening mood' (P. Nash, Outline, London, 1949, p. 41). He continues to say that 'it is not until I think of Swanage that I recall the sea blue and beguiling' (ibid.). Nash found that settling at Swanage in 1934 revived his spirits after being ill for a period of eighteen months. Swanage inspired his work, and his notes on the period in Outline (in which he mentions the Redfern Gallery exhibition where the present lot was shown) convey this enthusiasm 'Redfern Exhibition of watercolours. Happy success. Return to Swanage. I find an object by the sea. Seaside Surrealism' (op. cit., p. 225).