Dimensions: support: 108 x 144 mm
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: This is John Varley’s "Monochrome Composition: A Blot," housed in the Tate Collections. It's a small artwork, and the monochromatic wash gives it an ethereal feel. What stands out to you in this composition? Curator: The application of the wash creates a clear tension between tonal values. Note how the artist uses the density of the wash to create depth and shadow. Editor: It’s interesting how such a simple technique can evoke such a strong sense of space. Curator: Indeed. The composition’s success lies in its manipulation of light and shade. It demonstrates how formal constraints can actually enhance artistic expression. Editor: I hadn't considered the constraints as a deliberate artistic choice. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure. Looking closely at the structure allows us to appreciate the intentionality behind even seemingly spontaneous works.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/varley-monochrome-composition-a-blot-t09321
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Varley was the most sought-after drawing master of his time and the author of several drawing manuals. He wrote: 'The true exercise of art consists in contrasting the round with the square, the light with the dark, the hard with the soft, the far with the near.' 'Blots' provided Varley with a quick and effective method for working out imaginary landscape compositions which met these requirements. He has used broad, quickly applied washes boldly to suggest the trees and riverbank, leaving the white of the paper to act as the highlights. Gallery label, August 2004
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