Ben Nicholson (1894-1982) was a British painter and sculptor best known for his geometric abstractions. His earlier, more representational still life and landscape paintings evolved into pieces that focused on form, dimension and colour. He was influenced by the cubists and, in particular, by the work of Piet Mondrian. Through his signature sculptural carved relief paintings, Nicholson became a significant contributor to the modernist movement. His pieces were often characterized by a limited palette of well-selected and atypical colour combinations. Muted, pastel tones existed alongside intense hues, creating unexpected relationships. As Jerry Bywater, the director of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, said in an essay accompanying a 1964 exhibition of Nicholson's work, “He is a geometrician, mathematician, and scientist, manipulating architectural shapes and spaces. But he also manages to infuse this calculated work with a serenity of spirit and richness of mood.” Nicholson’s abstracts benefited greatly from his acute observational skills, honed in his early days as a landscape painter, enabling him to identify and isolate harmonious colours interactions.
