'Mr Pencil at Annestown', Sir Norman Reid

Artwork details

Artist

Sir Norman Reid (1915‑2007)

Title

Mr Pencil at Annestown

Date 1960-81

MediumOil paint on canvas on board

Dimensionssupport: 452 x 518 mm

Collection

Tate

Acquisition Presented by Lady d'Avigdor Goldsmid through the Friends of the Tate Gallery 1982

Reference

T03478

Not on display

Display caption

Annestown is a village on the Irish coast. In this painting it is seen from the beach. In the centre, the main street runs uphill between buildings. A striped lighthouse stands out against the coastline beyond. Developed from a gouache made on the spot in 1952, the composition was greatly modified when the artist decided to make it read equally well with either of its two longer edges at the top. Although this aim was realised, the original orientation is the only one he now approves. The first two words of the title refer to a character made fun of in a cartoon of 1830 by Randolphe Toepffer… (read more)

September 2004