Wood engraving on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
Opus 2
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/naum-gabo-1137" aria-label="More by Naum Gabo" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Naum Gabo</a>
Presented by the artist 1967
abstraction
geometric
irregular forms
non-representational
paper print wood engraving
25 January 2020 – 3 May 2020
2020-05-03
25 January 2020 – 3 May 2020
2020-05-03
2020-01-25
Tate St Ives (St Ives, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/stives/
2020-01-25
Naum Gabo: Realistic Manifesto
Exhibition
[no title]
image: 204 × 154 mm
Presented by the artist 1967
<strong>Naum Gabo</strong> 1890-1977
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<a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/gabo-no-title-p02002" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P02002</span></a> <strong>Opus 2</strong> 1950 
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Inscribed 'Gabo' at b.r. of image, and (all these inscriptions the other way up) 'op 2' t.r., 'Gabo' t.l. and stamped with monogram 'NG' at extreme t.l.<br/>
Wood engraving, 8 x 6 (20.4 x 15.3) on paper 11 x 9 (27.9 x 22.8)<br/>
Presented by the artist through the American Federation of Arts 1967<br/>
<em>Lit:</em> Michael Mazur, 'The Monoprints of Naum Gabo' in <em>Print Collector's Newsletter</em>, IX, No.5, 1978, pp.149-50<br/>
<em>Repr:</em> Herbert Read and Leslie Martin, <em>Gabo: Constructions, Sculpture, Paintings, Drawings, Engravings</em> (London 1957), pl.127 (the variant given to Mrs Gabo, with a completely different background)
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This <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/print" title="Glossary definition for 'Print'"><span>print</span></a> is signed at the top and bottom, in two opposite directions. The artist wrote that 'my double signature on it is deliberately intended to indicate that there is no up and no down on it. I would not like to definitely "rule", but personally I prefer the signature within the actual <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/e/engraving" title="Glossary definition for 'Engraving'"><span>engraving</span></a> to be down'. (Letter of 28 April 1968).
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According to Michael Mazur, the block was cut and proofed somewhere between January and April of 1950, and there are about 31 titled and signed examples, three signed proofs and two black proofs with Gabo's stamp. There is also one presentation <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/proof" title="Glossary definition for 'Proof'"><span>proof</span></a> 'For Miriam' (the one reproduced by Read and Martin), which is unique in having a grid pattern printed with corrugated cardboard or a straight edge. In all there are at least ten major variations, including the corrugated.
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<strong>Published in:</strong><br/>
Ronald Alley, <em>Catalogue of the Tate Gallery's Collection of Modern Art other than Works by British Artists</em>, Tate Gallery and Sotheby Parke-Bernet, London 1981, p.255, reproduced p.255

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Catalogue entry
2004-09-14T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
abstraction geometric irregular forms non-representational