Page 59 - Studio International - October1968

handle edge. The two remaining scissor handles
(both double, with holes, that in the lower left of
the picture and that in the upper right), comple-
ment the implied inner diagonal pair by implying
another diagonal from lower left to upper right
(itself a single pair of doubled curves, as against a
double pair of single and double curves). This may
be tedious to verbalize, but in the drawing it makes
for a serene balance; the jarring diagonal of the
bottom of the plate impression keeps it from being
so serenely balanced that it disappears.
The colour plate shows the scissors motif in a
work which is not part of this series proper. The
block of brown, refusing to be rectangular, acti- facing page Ben Nicholson Rhodos no. 1 1965
vates the composition in a way close to the use of mixed media 10¾ x 10⅜ in.
the ingaglio angle just mentioned.
These are essays in subtlety. A rarely modulated left Ben Nicholson Variations on a theme—
line of Cartesian purity is in the service of a live scissors no. 8 1968
hand. So that we are never lulled into loveliness, mixed media 15 x 12* in.
there is always some small aggressive note to keep
us on our toes. below Ben Nicholson Scissors and black form
We are meant to be a little irritated, I think. 1968
Joseph Masheck wash drawing in relief 17¾ x 20½ in.