Dark Brown, Orange and White
1963
Scott, William
The title of this large abstract painting simply describes the reduced palette Scott used to make the work. These earthy tones point to the artist's core interests in natural and still life forms. The canvas is occupied by a series of carefully balanced, simple forms, some of which are cropped by the edges of the canvas. Rather than being perfectly geometric, the shapes have soft contours, creating a poetic visual effect typical of colour field painting.
In the early 1950s William Scott became the first major British artist to meet the New York School of abstract painters, including Mark Rothko, whose influence is particularly present in this painting.
Caroline Hancock
Exhibition Organiser
Hayward Gallery