May 1955 (Gwithian)

Ben Nicholson, 1894–1982

1955

Oil on canvas

Yale Center for British Art

An abstract composition features geometric shapes and organic curves in muted tones of blue, grey, beige, and pink, with accents of red and yellow. Thin black lines overlay some of the shapes, adding a graphic element. In the 1930s, Nicholson briefly experimented with pure abstraction, using only geometric shapes and color blocks. But he preferred to root his art in the real world, using observed objects as a starting point. He moved to Cornwall at the start of the Second World War, inspired by the light and colors of the landscape, and sought to transform its natural features into overlapping planes of color. Although this painting is largely abstract, some shapes hint at familiar objects, such as a wine glass or a plate, suggesting a still life seen against a window. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection