Graphite, crayon and watercolour on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Contemporary Art Society
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/reg-butler-844" aria-label="More by Reg Butler" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Reg Butler</a>
Head Watcher
Presented by the Contemporary Art Society 1957
abstraction
actions: expressive
actions: postures and motions
actions: processes and functions
adults
body
Butler, Reg, ‘The Unknown Political Prisoner’
figure
fine art and design, named works
freedom
from recognisable sources
government and politics
grimacing
head / face
looking / watching
looking up
objects
people
persecution
political prisoner
social comment
society
woman
<p>These drawings were made as preliminary sketches for Butler's monument to 'The Unknown Political Prisoner', a tower designed to commemorate those who had been imprisoned or lost their lives in the cause of freedom. The drawings represent the heads of three women, described by the artist as witnesses who remember the prisoner. Butler envisaged that the viewer would be 'drawn by their gaze into contemplation of the upper vastness of the tower.'</p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2004</em></p>
paper unique graphite crayon watercolour
23 March 2001 – 9 June 2002
2002-06-09
23 March 2001 – 9 June 2002
2002-06-09
2001-03-23
Tate Modern (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
2001-03-23
1951: The Shape of a Year
Collection based display
17 June 2002 – 8 June 2003
2003-06-08
17 June 2002 – 8 June 2003
2003-06-08
2002-06-17
Tate Modern (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
2002-06-17
Circle of Influence: Herbert Read
Collection based display
Study for Head of Watcher
support: 273 × 203 mm
frame: 500 × 947 × 32 mm
Presented by the <a href="/search?gid=999999975" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Contemporary Art Society</a> 1957
<p>These <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/d/drawing" title="Glossary definition for 'Drawing'"><span>drawings</span></a> were made as preliminary sketches for Butler's monument to 'The
Unknown Political Prisoner', a tower designed 
to commemorate those who had been imprisoned or lost their lives in the cause of freedom. The drawings represent the heads of three women, described by the artist as witnesses who remember the prisoner. Butler envisaged that the viewer would be 'drawn by their gaze into contemplation of the upper vastness of the tower.' 
</p>
Display caption
2004-09-08T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
abstraction actions: expressive actions: postures and motions actions: processes and functions adults body Butler, Reg, ‘The Unknown Political Prisoner’ figure fine art and design, named works freedom from recognisable sources government and politics grimacing head / face looking up looking / watching objects people persecution political prisoner social comment society woman