Harold Town
HAROLD TOWN "ABSTRACT LOOPS" DRAWING 1954
Harold Town (1924-1990) is renowned across Canada and beyond for his eclectic and dynamic body of work. He was considered the most famous artist in Canada after appearing on the cover of Maclean's magazine in 1961.
In the 1950s, Town established his reputation with a series of abstract monotypes (called "Single Autographic Prints"). He would exhibit these works at the Venice Biennale to great fanfare in Europe and at home. In addition to this material and his association with Painters Eleven, Town was an important and influential proponent of abstraction in Toronto and by extension Canada.
This untitled work (nicknamed "Abstract Loops") is notable for its apparent spontaneity and dynamism. During this period, Town incorporated actual strings into his works. In this piece, gentle loops swirl across the surface, not only evoking the presence of string but mimicking its organic flow and tactile character.
This early work recalls the artist's initial experiments with printmaking in the mid-1950s. The composition suggests it may have served as a study or preparatory piece from this formative period, offering insight into the techniques and motifs Town would later expand upon in his more developed works.
It should be emphasized that although Town was one of the most accomplished and celebrated practitioners of abstract expressionism in Canada, he never fully abandoned figuration. One could argue that this "abstract" piece is actually a depiction of a mother and child....What do you see?
Today, Town's work is represented in prestigious collections across North America including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Museum of Modern Art (New York), and the Guggenheim (New York).
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"Untitled" aka "Abstract Loops"
Canada, 1954
India ink on paper
Signed and dated by the artist, top left
17"H 19"W (work)
23.25"H 25.25W (framed)
Framed with museum glass.
Very good condition.
Provenance: The Estate of Harold Town
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