Marlow Moss

1934

Painting, 72.5 x 55 cm .
Materials: oil on canvas

Collection: De Vleeshal Collection, Middelburg (The Netherlands) (Inv. no. VH0092).

In the early years of her career, Marlow Moss observed the rules of the neo-plastic movement to the letter. Yet, she soon went her own way. Although she always remained faithful to a number of aspects (the pure colours, the straight lines), focusing on movement from the beginning, unlike the other artists she surrounded herself with.

It was she, therefore, who introduced the so-called ‘double line’. By drawing a double horizontal line that goes through the centre of the canvas, an expression of motion ensues. It is as if the different parts of the painting are driven apart. Moss always started from a composition that had to meet certain proportions. There are even theories that claim that she calculated the format of certain works with mathematical precision in advance. In any event, before she started to paint, the outcome was always clear.