Painting

Robyn Denny b.1930

T01836 Painting 1959

Inscribed ‘Denny 59’b.r.
Oil and gouache on paper, 29¾ x 21¾ (75.5 x 55.8).
Presented by the artist 1973.
Exh: Tate Gallery, March–April 1973 (not numbered).

In 1959 Denny was still concerned with the subject of ‘layering’ or obliterating earlier imagery by working on top of it. However, he was beginning to dispense with letters and numbers which had been the predominant forms. Although for example ‘Living In’ (1958–59) started off with stencillings, subsequently almost totally absorbed by later layers of paint, T01836 had only fused areas of pink, orange, yellow and white gouache, which were allowed to gleam, scarcely visibly, beneath the freely brushed on layers of black oil. The artist said that he wanted the spectator to consider such concealment with an almost archaeological interest.

Published in The Tate Gallery Report 1972–1974, London 1975.