Abstract in White, Black, Indian and Lilac 1957

Victor Pasmore made this relief in white, black, Indian red and lilac. I can imagine Pasmore in his studio, trying out colours and forms, deciding where to place each shape and line, building up the layers to create something that feels both structured and playful. The white background isn't just a blank space; it’s an active part of the composition, pushing the other colours forward and back in space, as though they're floating. The linear forms have a musical quality, a bit like a musical score. I can imagine him humming to himself as he added each stroke. There’s something satisfying in the way he balances the different elements, the horizontal lines echoing each other, the blocks of colour providing anchors. The Indian red is very grounding, it’s a warm color, somehow balancing the coldness of the black lines. Painters are always looking at each other's work, whether they know it or not, and I wonder what paintings Pasmore might have been thinking about when he made this, carrying on an ongoing conversation with modernism.