Artwork
Bad Dream
Bad Dream is a print by Ann Norfield. It dates from 2010 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2010, *Bad Dream* is a hand-coloured screenprint by Ann Norfield. The piece presents a close-up of an open mouth, its teeth fractured and uneven, rendered with deliberate irregularity. Each impression is individually signed, titled, and numbered by the artist, affirming its status as a limited edition work within her printmaking practice.
Subject & Meaning
The image centers on a mouth devoid of conventional dental structure, its broken teeth suggesting decay or trauma. Rather than literal representation, the form evokes unease, possibly alluding to vulnerability, silenced speech, or psychological disturbance. The absence of context amplifies the sense of internal disruption, leaving interpretation open to the viewer’s own associations.
Technique & Style
Norfield employed screenprinting as the base technique, layering ink with manual colouring to achieve subtle tonal variations. The edges of the teeth are jagged and uneven, contrasting with the smooth, flat planes of the surrounding skin. This tension between precision and chaos reflects a deliberate aesthetic choice, grounding the surreal subject in tactile, handmade detail.
History & Provenance
The work emerged from Norfield’s early 21st-century printmaking phase, during which she explored bodily fragments as vessels for emotional states. *Bad Dream* has been held in private collections since its production, with no record of institutional exhibition. Its limited numbering suggests a small, intentional print run, consistent with the artist’s focus on intimate, hand-crafted editions.
Context
Norfield’s work from this period often isolates parts of the human form to examine psychological undercurrents. *Bad Dream* aligns with broader contemporary trends in figurative printmaking that prioritize emotional resonance over narrative clarity. The piece reflects a quiet shift away from overt symbolism toward visceral, bodily metaphors in post-2000 British print art.
Legacy
Though not widely exhibited, *Bad Dream* remains a representative example of Norfield’s exploration of the body as a site of unspoken anxiety. Its restrained palette and focused composition have influenced a small circle of printmakers interested in psychological minimalism. The work endures as a quiet, personal statement within her broader oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ann Norfield makes bold, graphic prints that feel like city snapshots frozen in time.
