City Forms

A striking cityscape dated 1971, depicting an urban skyline distilled into a rhythmic arrangement of architectural forms, executed in oil onto canvas.

Blocks of buildings stretch across the composition, punctuated by a solitary tower rising prominently against the softly rendered sky. In the foreground, broad horizontal structures and dark linear passages introduce a strong sense of depth, suggesting rooftops, roads or elevated urban infrastructure.

Painted in a loose modernist style, the artist favours simplified geometry and expressive mark-making over precise architectural detail. Buildings are reduced to planes, lines and blocks of colour, giving the work an almost abstract quality while retaining a clear sense of the city.

The palette is particularly appealing, combining dusty blush pink, soft peach, warm cream and muted grey-blue with earthy olive and taupe. Deep charcoal and chocolate-brown accents cut through these gentler tones, lending structure and graphic contrast to the composition.

Brushwork is confident, spontaneous and visibly gestural, with broad, dry strokes allowing areas of the underlying ground to show through. Sweeping horizontal marks animate the foreground, while loosely applied vertical strokes articulate the architecture. The resulting surface feels immediate and wonderfully painterly, capturing the atmosphere and rhythm of the city rather than its exact appearance.

This oil on canvas is presented in a complementary silver toned wood frame. The painting is in very good vintage condition, and the frame has general scuff marks and signs of wear, consistent with age.