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 felt-tip pen drawing on light brown paper by Gillian Wise, characterized by overlapping geometric shapes in a limited color palette of black, blue, brown, and red against a light beige background.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is abstract, featuring stacked, tilted, and flat geometric shapes that evoke a sense of depth without representational elements. The interlocking shapes create a paradoxical visual effect of being both highly organized and initially perplexing.
Technique & Style
The drawing showcases Wise's use of clean, precise lines and simple, bold colors. The felt-tip pen technique allows for sharp outlines, contributing to the work's geometric clarity and puzzle-like structure.
History & Provenance
Originally titled *Drawing with colour 1967–68* on its reverse, the work was exhibited as part of *Four Artists, Reliefs, Constructions and Drawings* at the V&A (Loan Exhibition No. 38, Cat. no. 33).
Context
Created during a period favoring geometric abstraction, *Drawing for Relief 1967-68* reflects the late 1960s' interest in non-representational art forms that explored spatial relationships and visual tension through simple, geometric means.
Legacy
While specific long-term impacts are not detailed, the piece remains representative of Gillian Wise's contribution to late 1960s geometric abstraction, potentially influencing subsequent generations of abstract artists exploring similar themes of depth and interlocking forms.
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.
