Dimensions: support: 349 x 451 mm
Copyright: © Desmond Banks | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Nicholson's "Mushrooms" presents such a humble subject, elevated by this gorgeous light. It's a painting of quiet observation, wouldn't you say? Editor: Definitely. The subdued palette and downward perspective create a sense of intimacy, almost a silent reverence for these fungi. It reminds me of how nature, often overlooked, sustains us. Curator: It is from 1940, you know, a time of upheaval. Maybe Nicholson found solace in these simple forms, the muted tones a reflection of wartime austerity. The materiality, the brushstrokes... Editor: Perhaps. Or maybe it is an ironic statement, portraying the abundance of food, compared with the struggles and food shortages during that time. Curator: It's a curious balance isn't it? Regardless, it's undeniable that it is beautiful. Editor: Yes, a striking reminder of how art can engage with socio-political undercurrents without losing sight of aesthetic contemplation.
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This picture, painted towards the end of Nicholson's career, was exhibited in London at the Leicester Galleries in January 1941. Mushrooms were a favourite subject, which Nicholson had been painting since the 1920s.The work is the only example that the Tate Gallery acquired directly from the artist's dealer on its first exhibition. The purchase was part of a campaign by the then Director Sir John Rothenstein to ensure that senior living British artists could be shown at the Gallery by outstanding works. Gallery label, September 2004