Alison Watt, born 1965. Artist
About this artwork
Alison Watt has always been interested in figurative art. Most of her early work is concerned with portraiture, with self-portraiture playing a large part. Watt began this painting whilst she was still a student at Glasgow School of Art. Although influenced by the elegance of classical artists such as Ingrès, at this time Watt also liked 'ridiculous, over dramatised gestures'. Painted whilst she was ill, this self-portrait shows Watt with her right hand across her forehead, as if she is taking her temperature or about to faint. Her interest in fleshy tones is palpable although she treats the whole surface of the canvas equally. The composition of vertical lines from the panelling and the bold horizontal division created by her hand draw the focus around the canvas.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Alison Watt (born 1965) Scottish
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title:Alison Watt, born 1965. Artist
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date created:1986 - 1987
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materials:Oil on canvas
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measurements:Framed: 53.20 x 52.70 x 6.80 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Presented by Art Fund in December 2011 to celebrate the re-opening of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
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accession number:PG 3684
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gallery:
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depicted:
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subject:
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artwork photographed by:Antonia Reeve
Alison Watt
Alison Watt
Born in Greenock, Watt studied at Glasgow School of Art. In 1987, while still a student, she won the National Portrait Gallery's prestigious annual award. She subsequently became well known for her paintings of figures, often female nudes. In the late 90s she began to focus on the fabric...