Kenneth Armitage 1916-2002
Figure on its Back, 1963
Initialled & dated lower right
Charcoal & gouache on paper
15 x 19 3/4 in / 38.1 x 50.2 cm
Provenance
Estate of the artist
Literature
The New Art Centre, London
Directly correlating to Seated Figure with Arms Raised, the gouache Figure on
its back reveals Armitage's enduring fascination with the irreverence of the
human figure. Herbert Read saw these works as inspired by the simple and
'primitive' art forms Armitage had seen at the British Museum – 'the stretched
agony of human relationships' but most hailed the work as humane and
reassuring. Armitage himself said, 'I find most satisfying work which derives
from careful study and preparation but which is fashioned in an attitude of
pleasure and playfulness'.
