Artwork
Drawing for Relief 1967-68
Drawing for Relief 1967-68 is a drawing by Gillian Wise. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Drawing for Relief (1967-68) is a mixed-media artwork by Gillian Wise, combining a felt-tip pen drawing with a collage of metal discs. The piece features overlapping black lines forming three stacked cubes against a pale yellow background, with thin connecting lines, dots (in blue and black), and a subtle 3D effect.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of Drawing for Relief is a geometric, impossible spatial arrangement of three stacked cubes. The use of simple shapes, clean lines, and strategic color contrast (blue and black dots) creates a visual puzzle, challenging the viewer to decipher the cubes' spatial relationships.
Technique & Style
Wise employed a combination of felt-tip pen drawing and collage (metal discs) to achieve a blend of precise lines and tactile elements. The overall style is characterized by minimalism, geometric abstraction, and an exploration of perceptual depth through two-dimensional means.
History & Provenance
Drawing for Relief was exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in 1968 as part of Four Artists, Reliefs, Constructions and Drawings (Loan Exhibition No. 38, Catalogue No. 35). The work is inscribed with its title on the reverse.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gillian Mary Wise was a British artist devoted to the application of concepts of rationality and aesthetic order to abstract paintings and reliefs. Between 1972 and 1990 she was known as Gillian Wise Ciobotaru.
