Nicholson + Mondrian

Yesterday we went to a new exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery exploring the relationship and mutual influence of Piet Mondrian and Ben Nicholson. Nicholson had visited Mondrian at his studio in Paris - a friendship that grew much closer when Mondrian moved to London from 1938-40.


http://www.courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/exhibitions/2012/mondrian-nicholson/index.shtml

For me, these two abstract paintings by Nicholson really stood out. They are both really beautiful studies in colour, proportion and composition.

John Berry - Ladybird

These illustrations by John Berry have been on my pin board for a while now. I really love the muted palette and the extraordinary compositions. They were painted for the Ladybird 'People at Work' series. These are from 'The Postman'.

"His pictures for the 20 books of the Ladybird People at Work series form a complete visual record of British industry in the early 1960s – an age of industrial prosperity where potteries, coalmines and car manufacture were flourishing, while obliging porters carried suitcases at railway stations and the only equipment a smiling customs officer required was a torch to shine into ladies' handbags."

- Cressida Connolly - see link below

These three are from 'The Roadbuilders'.

John Berry died on 10th December 2009 - there is a lovely obituary by Cressida Connolly in the Guardian:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jan/22/john-berry-obituary

Soldiers and Sailors

These beautiful mosaics are on the WWI war memorial in Ledbury, Herefordshire. I love the accuracy of the details - the insignia on the cuffs, and buckles on the belts.