St. Ives No 1. St. Ives from Trezion by Ben Nicholson, 1894-1982

Ben Nicholson, 1894-1982
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St. Ives No 1. St. Ives from Trezion

Original etching overworked by hand by Nicholson in pencil and gouache. 1967. Signed and dated in pencil (on the reverse). Inscribed by Nicholson with the title: 'St. Ives No 1. Unique hand-worked proof prior to the edition of 50 impressions (which has no colouring). Proof printed at the studio of Lafranca, 1967. Provenance: Marlborough London 68
Ref: Lafranca - Ben Nicholson Etchings no 43.

Superb and unique proof impression. On heavy wove paper. Trimmed by Nicholson to the plate area, as is typical of such mixed media proofs. Excellent condition. Irregular format; overall 5 3/4 x 10 3/8ins (145x263mm).

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An exceptional and very beautiful impression of one of Ben Nicholson?s most significant etchings of the 1960?s in a unique example with added work in watercolour.

This composition of St Ives, the fishing village in North Cornwall which became the centre of avant-garde British painting in the 1930?s and 40?s and where Nicholson had his main studio until he moved to Switzerland in the 1960?s, epitomises the whole of Ben Nicholson?s approach to etching as a medium. In the incised line he saw a way of ?carving? the surface of the paper so that it describes form in both a two dimensional and a three dimensional sense. His use of the line gives not only clarity of vision but also a special sense of rhythm. The use of the pattern of the shapes themselves is then extended into the form of the plate itself, so that it becomes a complete entity. This is emphasised in this special example by the fact that the excess margins of the sheet have been trimmed away and the image and the sheet become as one, complete in themselves. By adding the brushstrokes of watercolour wash (in a soft blue-grey) he then introduced another contrast of surface and texture. It is also characteristic that so as not to detract from the unity of the whole Nicholson has signed and annotated this work on the reverse of the sheet.

Ben Nicholson was one of the most important British abstract painters. His etchings are a totally personal statement of his art and aesthetics, and have a unique position in the imagery of 20th century in Britain. This version of ?St. Ives from Trezion? is an outstanding example of his use of this art form.