Alexander Cozens and a pupil

A Blot, Based on New Method, Plate 10. Verso: A Clumsier Blot

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In Tate Britain

Prints and Drawings Room

View by appointment

Artist: Alexander Cozens 1717–1786 and a pupil
Medium: Ink on paper. Verso: ink on paper
Dimensions: Support: 480 × 382 mm
frame (Imperial): 725 × 550 × 25 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996
Reference: T08197

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Cozens published a drawing manual called A New Method of Assisting the Invention... of Landscape in 1786, which demonstrated one of his schemes for inventing landscape compositions. He recommended the use of the chance associations which semi-randomly applied 'blots' of ink would produce in the mind to create new compositions. When making a blot, Cozens wrote, 'you must first possess your mind strongly with the subject'. Here Cozens or a pupil has used a large brush loaded with dense black ink, working quickly to lay down the main forms, and using overlapping dabs of ink to complete the image.

Gallery label, August 2004

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