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Please note the house will be temporarily closed for 4 weeks from 14 March 2024

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Open: Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm

We are closed on Bank Holiday Mondays

Please note the house will be temporarily closed for 4 weeks from 14 March 2024

© Nina & Graham Williams / Tate Images. Photo: Kettle's Yard

Print

Opus 5 (aka The Constellations), 1950

Naum Gabo
Wood engraving (monoprint) on paper
270 x 220 mm
[NG 1]
On display

About the artist

Born 1890 – Died 1977

Read the full biography

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As the inscription suggests, this print was presented by the artist to Jim Ede as a gift in 1952. They had first met in Paris in the early 1920s.

Gabo began to make monoprints in 1950, continuing until 1973. A monoprint differs from an editioned print in that, although the block is the same, changes in inking, colouring and orientation make each impression unique.

There are some obvious affinities between Gabo’s prints and sculptures. In both, weightless forms appear to float in space. Here the translucent Japanese paper creates visual effects akin to those of the Perspex often used by the artist for his sculptures.

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