The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 20, 2024

1941 (relief)

1941

Ben Nicholson

(British, 1894–1978)

England, 20th century

oil on wood

Framed: 46.7 x 65.4 x 5.1 cm (18 3/8 x 25 3/4 x 2 in.)

Contemporary Collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art 1965.449

Location: not on view

Description

One of the pioneers of abstract art in Great Britain, Ben Nicholson merged Cubist principles of design with suggestive shapes inspired by Surrealism. This construction of painted wood displays the principles of compositional harmony and purity of form characteristic of his “white reliefs,” which are considered his greatest contribution to modern art. With its disciplined approach to compositional arrangement, 1941 reflects the influence of Nicholson’s close relationship with Dutch artist Piet Mondrian.

Sir Herbert Read, London. (E. V. Thaw).
Monet to Dalí: Modern Masters from the Cleveland Museum of Art. Beijing World Art Museum, China (May 26-August 27, 2006); Mori Art Center (September 16-November 26, 2006); Seoul Art Center, South Korea (December 22, 2006-March 28, 2007); Seoul Olympic Museum of Art, South Korea (April 7-May 20, 2007); Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada (June 9-September 16, 2007); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 21, 2007-January 13, 2008); Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN (February 15-June 1, 2008); Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake City, UT (June 22-September 21, 2008); The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI (October 12, 2008-January 18, 2009).
CMA (organizer). Beijing World Art Museum, China, May 26 - Aug. 27, 2006; Mori Arts Center, Tokyo, Japan: Sept. 9 - Nov. 26, 2006; Seoul Arts Center, Seoul, Korea: Dec. 18, 2006 - March 31, 2007; Seoul Olympic Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea: Apr. 7 - May 20, 2007; Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: June 9 - Sept. 16, 2007; Cleveland Museum of Art, Oct. 21, 2007- January 13, 2008; Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, TN, Feb. 21-June 1, 2008; Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake City, UT, June 22 - September 21, 2008; and the Detroit Institute of Arts, MI, October 12, 2008 - January 18, 2009: "Modern Masters from the Cleveland Museum of Art"
Space and Modern Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 9-September 25, 1966).
{{cite web|title=1941 (relief)|url=false|author=Ben Nicholson|year=1941|access-date=20 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1965.449