Ben Nicholson was one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century. The style of his graphic work is particularly iconic and immediately identifiable.

Key influences on his career included the work of his father (the great painter William Nicholson), Piet Mondrian’s geometric abstraction, Pablo Picasso’s cubism, Alfred Wallis' naïve art, and the sculpture of Barbara Hepworth (to whom Nicholson was married for 13 years).

Nicholson had considerable success with drypoint etching. He liked the unpredictability as to whether each etched line would do as he intended, and the need to continually respond and adapt to the most recent line. The medium led to a further economy and restraint in his work.

“The bite of the steel point into the metal is a terrific experience when all goes right, and the necessity I am finding to reduce the idea to a series of lines is interesting.”

This print is typical of Nicholson; an economical line, a reduction of the subject to clear geometries, and a non-standard plate shape with its own interesting geometry.

The print has been cancelled by hand using blue crayon. This administrative act ended up an aesthetically pleasing addition, which feels fitting given Nicholson’s acceptance of and interest in the role of chance in the process of etching.
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Notes:

Lafranca 76
Etching in black
Print cancelled with blue crayon
On Rives wove
Unsigned, aside from edition of 50

Unframed

Printed by François Lafranca, Locarno, with their blindstamp
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Provenance:

Estate of Angela Verren Taunt, friend of Nicholson and copyright holder of his artworks after his death