Artwork
Target
Target is a drawing by Eduardo Paolozzi. It dates from 1947 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Eduardo Paolozzi's 1947 drawing, Target, is characterized by a bold, flat composition divided into three vertical panels, featuring vibrant colors and geometric shapes.
Subject & Meaning
While the drawing's symbols (crowns, playing cards, a snake-like form, and a prominent red 'X') may suggest underlying themes or allusions, the work's primary focus lies in its visual contrasts and modern aesthetic, blending traditional motifs with a contemporary twist.
Technique & Style
Target showcases Paolozzi's use of sharp lines, simple shapes (circles, triangles, lines), and a limited yet vibrant color palette (black, red, yellow). The overall style blends playfulness with modernist simplicity.
History & Provenance
Created in 1947, Target is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection, highlighting Paolozzi's contribution to mid-20th-century British art.
Context
Emerging in the late 1940s, Target reflects the post-war period's artistic exploration of simplicity, abstraction, and the reinterpretation of traditional symbols in a modern context.
Legacy
As a piece from Paolozzi's early career, Target contributes to the broader legacy of British post-war art, influencing subsequent generations in their exploration of graphic simplicity and symbolic reinterpretation.
Artist & collection
Artist
This Glaswegian ran a junk shop in London’s East End and turned scrap metal into art.
