14 autograph letters signed (‘Ben Nicholson’) to Anthony Bertram, London and Cornwall, n.d. [1930s]

Ben Nicholson (1894-1982)
14 autograph letters signed (‘Ben Nicholson’) to Anthony Bertram, London and Cornwall, n.d. [1930s]
Together 28 pages, various sizes from 178 x 133mm. Provenance: Sotheby's, 23 July 1979, lot 143.

‘I feel very strongly that the development of colour as a free force is one of the most important developments in painting today’. Letters relating to exhibitions of the work of Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth, the development of abstract art, and other more personal and administrative matters. Concerning Nicholson’s thoughts on his own work as well as the field more broadly, ‘I see that you said re. abstract art that “I would consider about the possibility of some other kind of art” – that is indeed true’, mentioning ‘all sorts of possibilities outside abstract art particularly in a literary direction’ and discussing illustrations that he has recently completed for a children’s book. He refers again to these developments arguing for the use of ‘both colour & form as FORCES’. Referencing a lecture he attended held by Naum Gabo on ‘Sculpture & Architecture’ at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, he writes that ‘some of the students there seem to be very alive’, whilst also referring to a 1936 exhibition of his and Hepworth’s work at the Lefevre Gallery. He praises Bertram, writing, ‘I think your “Design for Today” is a v. nice thing’, before continuing, ‘Barbara says how much she admires all the work you have been doing – indeed that feeling seems to be very general among our friends’. On a more personal note he also announces the birth of his triplets: ‘please don’t think it’s only one or even only two for early on Oct 3 3 babies arrived’.