Accession Number
1970/2.139

Title
Three Forms Assembling

Artist(s)
Dame Barbara Hepworth

Artist Nationality
British (modern)

Object Creation Date
1969

Medium & Support
color lithograph on paper

Dimensions
27 1/2 in x 19 3/4 in (69.9 cm x 50.2 cm);35 15/16 in x 28 in (91.3 cm x 71.2 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Subject matter
Similar to her contemporary sculptural production, in this composition, Hepworth explores the relationship between line, shape and space. The use of different and overlapping lines, marks and colors show an investigation into a two-dimensional representation of space and volume. This print is similar to the later series entitled "Opposing Forms" created during her time in St. Ives, where she was an integral part of the circle of modernist artists. 

Physical Description
A grid of thin black lines intersect the image, slightly off-center. In the background is an all-over, inconsistently-textured black rectangle. Each quadrant has a motif that transects the grid. In the upper right, there is an outline of a circle and a grey square, irregularly created in horizontal marks.  At the top left, there is a quadrilateral that transects the grid. It is colored yellow to the right of the line. In the lower left, there is a sketchy grey rectangle, similar to the one in the top right but created with vertical markings. In the lower right, there is another outline of a quadrilateral. This one also transects the grid and, to the left, is filled in with black.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
abstraction
form (composition concepts)
horizontality
modern and contemporary art
verticality