Naum Gabo

Oval Form

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About this artwork

This work originates in a monoprint which has been wiped clean in the centre, and then completely reworked in pastel and oil paint until there is scarcely any evidence of the original monoprint. It demonstrates Gabo’s unique, creative use of the monoprint technique in that he could use it to generate ideas, and then embark in a totally different direction. The cut block is pearwood. It is the only wood block that Gabo engraved into the plank (in other words, the broad side of the wood) rather than the end-grain, which is more commonly used for wood block printing.

Updated 2021

  • artist:
    Naum Gabo (1890 - 1977) RussianAmerican
  • title:
    Oval Form
  • date created:
    Unknown
  • materials:
    Monoprint with oil paint and pastel on paper
  • measurements:
    12.00 x 8.00 cm (image size); 25.00 x 18.00 cm (base material size)
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Accepted from Graham Williams under the Cultural Gifts Scheme by HM Government and allocated to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 2020
  • accession number:
    GMA 5669
  • gallery:
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Naum Gabo

Naum Gabo