Artwork
Geometry?
Geometry? is a watercolor work on paper by the Pop art artist Joe Tilson. It dates from 1965 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This watercolor from 1965 plays with shapes on graph paper. Joe Tilson, the British artist, numbers the grid from 1 to 21. Lines and circles don’t follow the rules—they overlap or shift out of place.
The work shows Tilson’s bold style from that time. He liked bright colors and direct images, often using words or numbers in his art.
Check out another Joe Tilson piece next.
Overview
This 1965 watercolour, titled Geometry?, is a representative work by British artist Joe Tilson, created using graph paper as its base.
Technique & Style
The watercolour features a grid numbered from 1 to 21, with lines and circles that deliberately disrupt the grid's order, overlapping or being displaced. Tilson's style is characterized by bold, bright colours and direct imagery, often incorporating words or numbers.
Subject & Meaning
The work plays with geometric shapes, subverting the grid's structure. The use of numbers and irregular forms creates a sense of tension, highlighting the relationship between order and disorder.
Context
Geometry? is associated with the early days of the Pop Art movement in London, a circle that included artists like Ron Kitaj, Allen Jones, David Hockney, and Tom Phillips, with whom Tilson was connected during his time at the Royal College of Art around 1960.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Charles Tilson was a British visual artist and fellow of the Royal Academy. He was involved in the Pop Art movement in the 1960s; he made paintings, prints and constructions.
