Austin Cooper

Abstraction 199/62

1951–62

© The estate of Austin Cooper

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Not on display

Artist: Austin Cooper 1890–1964
Medium: Watercolour and paper on board
Dimensions: Unconfirmed: 419 × 483 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation 1963
Reference: T00572

Catalogue entry

T00572 ABSTRACTION 199/62 1951–62

Inscr. ‘Austin Cooper 1951–62’ b.r.
Watercolour and collage on cardboard, 16 1/2×19 (42×48).
Presented by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation 1963.
Coll: Purchased by the Gulbenkian Foundation from Gimpel Fils 1963.
Exh: Gimpel Fils, September 1962 (43, repr.).

In reply to a request for information about the theme of this and the two following works the artist wrote (7 April 1963): 'How can I explain what is really rather inexplicable? Only recently I discovered a beautiful definition of Art by Cyril Connolly - which, to me, seems true. “Art is the conscious apprehension of the unconscious beauty of all created things.”

‘In so far as my pictures are concerned they are the constructions based on a very varied experience which has taught me - so I hope and believe - that we are surrounded by mystery....’

Published in:
Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture, London 1964, I