John Hoyland RA, Taking a Dive 23.2.85

Taking a Dive 23.2.85, 1985

John Hoyland RA (1934 - 2011)

RA Collection: Art

John Hoyland was one of Britain's leading abstract painters.

Hoyland initially identified his paintings by only a date, which signified the completion of the work. However from the mid 1970s he also used titles, which in this case reveals his inspiration, confirmed by the presence of fish-like shapes.

In the early 1980s the circle became a dominant feature of Hoyland's work, as well as an increasingly strong and expressive palette. A sense of space is created in this painting, not only by the circle 'floating' against the black background, but also by the central black shape piercing the vibrant yellow.

Object details

Title
Taking a Dive 23.2.85
Artist/designer
John Hoyland RA (1934 - 2011)
Date
1985
Object type
Painting
Copyright owner
Medium
Acrylic on cotton duck
Dimensions

1540 mm x 1700 mm

Collection
Royal Academy of Arts
Object number
03/589
Acquisition
Diploma Work given by John Hoyland RA accepted 1993
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