Artwork
Related Forms
Related Forms is a watercolor work on paper by the Art Brut artist Jessica Dismorr. It dates from 1936 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The composition is divided into four zones by areas of untouched paper, establishing a quiet structural rhythm that guides the viewer’s eye across the page.
Jessica Dismorr’s Related Forms (1936) is a watercolour work composed of simplified, flat geometric shapes in muted tones of grey, brown, and beige. Despite the medium’s typical transparency, the pigment is applied with density in places, creating a tactile, almost opaque surface. The composition is divided into four zones by areas of untouched paper, establishing a quiet structural rhythm that guides the viewer’s eye across the page.
Subject & Meaning
The painting avoids figurative representation, instead suggesting abstracted forms that hint at organic or architectural silhouettes, perhaps vases, figures, or fragments of interior space. The separation of hues into distinct zones implies a deliberate ordering of visual elements, possibly reflecting an interest in spatial relationships or internal psychological structures. The absence of bright color reinforces a tone of restraint and introspection.
Technique & Style
Dismorr employs watercolour with unusual weight, building up layers to achieve a matte, solid appearance in certain areas. The edges of shapes are crisp, suggesting the use of masking or careful brushwork, while others appear roughly textured, introducing subtle variation within the muted palette. The deliberate use of negative space as a compositional element underscores a modernist sensitivity to balance and containment.
History & Provenance
Created in 1936, Related Forms belongs to Dismorr’s later period, following her earlier involvement with Vorticism and the London avant-garde. It reflects a shift toward quieter, more contemplative abstraction as she moved away from the movement’s dynamism. The work remained in private hands until its inclusion in retrospective exhibitions, where it was recognized as a significant example of British modernist watercolour.
Context
In the mid-1930s, British artists were increasingly turning to abstraction as a means of personal expression beyond political or narrative agendas. Dismorr’s work aligns with this trend, yet retains a distinctive sensitivity to materiality and spatial tension. Her use of subdued tones and structured composition contrasts with the more vibrant abstractions emerging in continental Europe, reflecting a uniquely British restraint.
Legacy
Though less widely known than some of her contemporaries, Dismorr’s Related Forms contributes to a broader understanding of women’s roles in British modernism. Its quiet formal rigor and material experimentation have influenced later reassessments of interwar abstraction, particularly in the context of watercolour as a serious medium for non-representational art. The work remains a quiet but persistent presence in scholarly discussions of modernist practice.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jessica Stewart Dismorr (3 March 1885 – 29 August 1939) was an English painter and illustrator.
