(California/England, 1912-2003)

Sketch for Interatom (CR 1939-086), 1939, unsigned, acrylic on canvas, 18 x 22 in.; black stained gallery frame, 22-1/8 x 26-1/4 x 2-5/8 in.

Provenance: Collection of the artist's sister, Elisabeth Onslow-Ford; By descent in family

Note: In the summer of 1938, Gordon Onslow Ford and Roberto Matta developed an artistic partnership in Brittany, painting together and refining their automatic processes. As part of his ongoing search for methods of making spontaneous imagery, Onslow Ford invented coulage (the term based on couler, meaning "to flow" in French), a technique that anticipated the work of Hans Hofmann and Jackson Pollock. He joined the Parisian Surrealist group in 1938, and through his influence and that of Matta, the Surrealist circle became increasingly interested in an abstract visual lexicon linked to metaphysics and mystical philosophy. - Guggenheim Museum.

For more information: https://brunkauctions.com/line-circle-%e2%97%8b-dot-%e2%97%8f-the-paintings-of-gordon-onslow-ford-september-29-2023/

lined and restretched on original stretcher, slight surface dirt, retouch