Winifred Nicholson (1893-1981)

In Flowers in a Jam Jar Winifred Nicholson's use of yellow ochre, soft green and magenta pink provide accents of pure colour against the tonal background of this still life, creating a harmonious composition. A similar use of colour can be seen in the work of Winifred's husband, Ben Nicholson, during the 1920s. In Cortivallo, Lugano, 1921-3 (Tate, London), Ben Nicholson's use of bright red paint to highlight a small house in the predominantly white landscape confirms this. It was also in the late 1920s that Winifred and Ben met Christopher Wood, whose influence can be felt in the present work.

J.N.