Colin McCahon

I and Thou

I and Thou by Colin McCahon

Artwork Detail

This is one of McCahon’s earliest ‘word’ paintings, in which words are presented as the main imagery. The words have a physical presence, appearing as three dimensional, solid forms in space, while still maintaining their linguistic function.

The fracturing of the picture surface and the spatial ambiguities of the image clearly indicates the artist’s familiarity with Cubist notions of constructing space. The presentation of the words also resembles the handiwork of signwriters, whose craft had interested McCahon since youth. (Beneath the Surface, 2000)

Title
I and Thou
Artist/creator
Colin McCahon
Production date
1954-1955
Medium
oil on hardboard
Dimensions
559 x 533 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, bequest of Miss L D Gilmour, 1990
Accession no
1990/1/3
Other ID
cm001370 Catalogue Number
Copyright
Copying restrictions apply
Department
New Zealand Art
Display status
Not on display

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