January 1973: 14 1973

The vibrant shades and abstract shapes of Number 14 from Patrick Heron’s January 1973 series might at first appear chaotic, but work together to explore ideas of visual harmony and the natural environment. A flat background of ocean blue is layered with irregularly curved forms. A strip of purplish-red delineates the left border of the screenprint, beside a joyful yellow and grassy green. To the right of the print are shapes in dark blue and bold orange. These fresh and contrasting colours target the eye and unreservedly demand attention from the viewer. The use of such bold and eye-catching colour captures the modernist spirit of experimentation and innovation. In particular, Number 14 engages with the intense colours contained in the collages of the influential French artist Henri Matisse (1869-1954). Raised in Cornwall in the South West of England, Patrick Heron (1920-1999) was heavily inspired by the shapes of the natural world. Many of his works incorporate similar angular forms, taken from the aerial landscape of the English coast with its rolling hills and colourful moors. The smooth and satisfying shapes of Number 14 are suggestive of shells, pools, and marine creatures. Perhaps the print abstractly references the hidden world under the sea? What do you think? 🌊 Editor: Lucy Jude Grantham