Artwork
Related Forms
Related Forms is a tempera painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist Jessica Dismorr. It dates from 1937 and is held in the collection of the Tate.
About this work
Overview
Related Forms is a 1937 tempera painting by English artist Jessica Dismorr, characterized by abstract shapes in blues and greys arranged in a loose grid with overlapping elements, conveying balance and harmony through varied sizes and smooth, curved edges.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is non-representational, focusing on the composition of abstract forms. The arrangement explores spatial relationships and visual equilibrium, suggesting an emphasis on harmony and the expressive potential of abstracted shapes.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the painting features smooth, curved shapes in a muted palette of blues and greys. The style aligns with early abstract expressionist tendencies, notable for Dismorr's pioneering role in abstract painting among English artists of the 1930s.
History & Provenance
Created in 1937, Related Forms is part of the Tate Britain collection, reflecting Dismorr's association with London's avant-garde scene.
Context
Dismorr's work within the abstract expressionist movement positioned her among vanguard artists, though her contribution as one of the few British abstract painters of the era underscores her unique standing in the UK's early 20th-century art landscape.
Legacy
While specific direct influences are not widely documented, Related Forms contributes to the broader legacy of British abstract art's development, offering insight into the evolution of non-representational practices in the UK during the mid-20th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jessica Stewart Dismorr (3 March 1885 – 29 August 1939) was an English painter and illustrator.
