Ben Nicholson - Painted Relief - 1934
Lucas Grogan - Just Quietly Babe - 2011
Alexander Calder - Cercles - 1964
Agnes Martin - Untitled - 1960
Lisa Congdon - Sketchbook -
Sonia Delaunay - Fashion Plate - 1924
There's something really wholesome, stable and reassuring about a circle. It goes off but comes back round again and as it closes up it is full - complete.
It seems natural, being a shape we see in stones and the sun and moon.
It's also easy to make - a stick in the sand and a 360' turn will draw an almost perfect circle.
Did you know that Giotto was asked by the pope to demonstrate his 'artistic genius' by drawing a perfect circle freehand in one stroke?
There is a Rembrandt self portrait that shows him in a somewhat defiant pose - hand on hip - in front of two circles on a wall. Could this be a reference to Giotto as he 'proves' he can paint?
