Roneo print on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/cecil-collins-930" aria-label="More by Cecil Collins" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Cecil Collins</a>
Fool
Presented by Elisabeth and Cecil Collins 1981
abstract concepts
actions: postures and motions
actions: processes and functions
adults
animals: birds
bird - non-specific
body
carrying / holding
characters
clown costume
dress: fantasy/fancy
emotional states and conditions
emotions and human qualities
emotions, concepts and ideas
Fool
freedom
freedom - bird
heart
innocence
innocence - the Fool
leisure and pastimes
literature and fiction
love
love - heart
man
music
music and entertainment
people
social comment
society
symbols and personifications
walking
<p><span>Cecil Collins</span> 1908-1989</p>
paper print roneo
The Fool
image: 305 × 133 mm
Presented by Elisabeth and Cecil Collins 1981
<div class="text">
<p>
<b>Cecil Collins</b> 1908-1989 </p>
<p>
<b>The Fool</b> 1944<br/>P11018</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In 1942 Collins began writing <i>The Vision of the Fool. </i>First published in 1947 this essay highlighted his vision of what he described as the ‘mechanical jungle of the contemporary world’ (quoted in Keeble, p.74). Throughout the essay Collins links the Fool with the ‘Saint, the artist, the poet’ (Keeble, p.81) as the saviours of life. He explains: ‘modern society has succeeded very well in rendering poetic imagination, Art, and Religion, the three magical representatives of life, an heresy; and the living symbol of that heresy is the Fool. The Fool is the poetic imagination of life, as inexplicable as the essence of life itself’ (Keeble, p.73). The fool became a recurring image for Collins, appearing in many of his paintings and prints as an innocent figure who, although having no place in modern society, has the vision which is necessary to find fulfilment and eventual reward.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In this image (identical to Tate <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/collins-the-fool-p11844" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P11844</span></a>) the Fool walks along carrying a heart in one hand and an owl in the other. The bird represents freedom, for, as Morphet explains in a catalogue essay written with the approval of the artist, birds ‘occupy the ether, the symbol of pure life and light’ (Morphet, p.18). Morphet further describes the Fool himself: ‘He is sprouting antenna-like forms which receive spiritual vibrations and relate to the finials which surmount St Mark’s Basilica in Venice and are known as ‘the language of the angels’ (Morphet, p.19). </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The technique Collins used involved a wax paper stencil through which the ink was rolled straight onto the paper. Not usually used making for works of art, this duplicating process was a common piece of office equipment before photocopiers. He may have adopted this unusual method because all the equipment required could be carried in a small box, an advantage when the artist was frequently travelling from place to place (Morphet, p.16). </p>
<p> </p>
<p>
<b>Further reading:</b>
</p>
<p>Richard Morphet, <i>The Prints of Cecil Collins, </i>London 1981, pp.18-19, illustrated, p.18</p>
<p>William Anderson, <i>Cecil Collins: The Quest for the Great Happiness, </i>London 1988</p>
<p>Judith Collins, <i>Cecil Collins: A Retrospective Exhibition, </i>exhibition catalogue, Tate Gallery, London 1989</p>
<p>Brian Keeble, <i>The Vision of the Fool and other Writings, </i>Ipswich 1994</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Heather Birchall</p>
<p>October 2002</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</div>

Summary
2012-04-27T00:00:00
summary
SHORT_TEXT
<p><b>P11018</b> THE FOOL 1944
<br/>
<br/>Inscribed ‘Cecil Collins 1944’ bottom left and ‘13/30’
<br/>Roneo, printed and published by the artist, 12×5 1/4 (30.5×13.3)
<br/>Presented by Elisabeth and Cecil Collins 1981
<br/><i>Lit:</i> op.cit., no.19
<br/>
<br/>[no further details]
<br/>
<br/><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>The Tate Gallery 1980-82: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions, London 1984
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-07-26T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
abstract concepts actions: postures and motions actions: processes and functions adults animals: birds bird - non-specific body carrying / holding characters clown costume dress: fantasy/fancy emotional states and conditions emotions and human qualities emotions, concepts and ideas Fool freedom freedom - bird heart innocence innocence - the Fool leisure and pastimes literature and fiction love love - heart man music music and entertainment people social comment society symbols and personifications walking