About this artwork
This painting was probably made in London after Turnbull returned from a two-year stay in Paris. Painted in monochrome blacks and greys, the work concentrates on movement, direction and balance. It may be based on the synchronised movement of fish, as seen in an aquarium, but it could equally be seen as an exercise in abstract forms, lines carefully positioned so that their directions form a state of equilibrium. Turnbull, like his friend Paolozzi, was fascinated by the movement of fish. He also learnt much from the work of Paul Klee and Alexander Calder, both of whom maintained a light-hearted equilibrium in their work between abstract construction and natural observation.
Updated before 2020
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artist:William Turnbull (1922 - 2012) Scottish
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title:Untitled (aquarium)
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date created:1950
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materials:Oil on canvas
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measurements:Canvas: 71.00 x 91.50 x 2.80 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Purchased from the Henry and Sula Walton Fund with help from Art Fund, 2014
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accession number:GMA 5490
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gallery:
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subject:
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artwork photographed by:Antonia Reeve
William Turnbull
William Turnbull
Turnbull was born in Dundee. He left school at 15 and worked as an illustrator on detective and romance stories for the local publishing house, DC Thompson, while studying art at evening classes. After serving as an RAF pilot in the Second World War, Turnbull studied at the Slade School of Art in...