Who painted An Abstract Composition?

An Abstract Composition was painted by Mainie Harriet Jellett in 1930.

Where can I see An Abstract Composition?

An Abstract Composition is held by National Gallery of Ireland.

What movement is An Abstract Composition?

An Abstract Composition is associated with Contemporary Abstract.

Artwork

An Abstract Composition

Mainie Harriet Jellett , 1930

An Abstract Composition is an oil painting by the Contemporary Abstract artist Mainie Harriet Jellett. It dates from 1930 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.

About this work

Overview

The canvas is dominated by interlacing swirls of orange, yellow and brown, layered to suggest depth and texture without depicting any recognizable objects.

Created circa 1930, this oil painting titled An Abstract Composition exemplifies Mainie Jellett’s exploration of non‑representational forms. The canvas is dominated by interlacing swirls of orange, yellow and brown, layered to suggest depth and texture without depicting any recognizable objects. The overall effect is one of movement and vigor, achieved through vigorous brushwork and luminous color fields.

Subject & Meaning

The work does not portray figurative subjects; instead it relies on the interaction of color and shape to evoke an emotional response. Warm hues intertwine in rhythmic patterns, inviting viewers to experience a sense of dynamism and internal tension. The absence of narrative elements aligns with Jellett’s commitment to pure abstraction, where visual experience itself becomes the focal point.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs thick, layered applications that give the surface a tactile quality. Bold, gestural strokes create a sense of immediacy, while the overlapping pigments generate a luminous depth typical of early twentieth‑century abstract experiments. The palette’s warm tones and the fluid, swirling motifs reflect contemporary European abstract trends that Jellett encountered during her Parisian studies.

History & Provenance

Mainie Jellett, an Irish artist trained in Paris, was instrumental in introducing modernist aesthetics to Ireland. An Abstract Composition entered the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings that document her role in the country’s artistic development. The painting’s presence in the gallery underscores Jellett’s lasting influence on Irish modern art.

Artist & collection

Artist

Mainie Harriet Jellett

Mary Harriet Jellett (29 April 1897 – 16 February 1944) was an Irish painter whose Decoration (1923) was among the first abstract paintings shown in Ireland when it was exhibited at the Society of Dublin Painters Group Show in 1923.

Museum

National Gallery of Ireland

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