Angelfish - London Aquarium

Artist Christopher Wood (Knowsley, England, 1901 - 1930)

Date1930

Mediumoil on cardboard

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsOverall: Height: 56 cm, Width: 58 cm
Frame: Height: 78.3 cm, Width: 80.3 cm

AcquisitionPresented in 1954 by the Contemporary Art Society.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG003522

Keywords

About MeChristopher Wood made significant contributions to British art as he was a key figure in the spread of ideas that emerged from the French Impressionists and Post Impressionists, particularly Primitivism. His emphasis on pure colour and forms is exemplified in 'Angelfish- London Aquarium' (1930). In this picture the two central fish are secondary elements: fluidity and colour dominate the picture plane. Wood's use of blocked colour gives the effect that the two fish become part of an overall pattern, almost blending into the background. This abstracted, delibrately naive style is typical of Wood's painting and follows closely the theories advocated by Clive Bell in his influential book of 1914 'Art'. Bell rejects photographic naturalism in favour of distortion "…which could achieve another reality capable of arousing aesthetic emotion."
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This vision in blue demonstrates Wood's favoured use of block colours, with other works possessing a similarly gloomy colour palette. Wood died at the age of 29, having fallen under a train.