Louvered Shutters 1971
signed and dated '71
acrylic on canvas
183 x 152.5 cms (72 x 60 ins)
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Norman Stevens was renowned for his technical ability as a printmaker and painter. His meticulous style is conveyed in Louvered Shutters through the use of perfectly graduating, crisp lines and...
Norman Stevens was renowned for his technical ability as a printmaker and painter. His meticulous style is conveyed in Louvered Shutters through the use of perfectly graduating, crisp lines and a sharp, balanced composition. At a glance, the pastel pink and grey construction is reminiscent of Optical art, but closer inspection reveals the piece as depicting a louvered screen; an archetypal subject for Stevens. The interplay between revealing and concealing potential space evokes a sense of intrigue around the work. The Maltzahn Gallery, where this work was shown, was highly influential in promoting the works of artists such as Elizabeth Frink, Richard Hamilton and Stevens’ fellow student David Hockney.