{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1035653"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1035653/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NP9512/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NP9512/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2023NP9512","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1035653","accessionNumber":"CIRC.402-1962","objectType":"Watercolour","titles":[{"title":"The Artist and his Daemon","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Cecil Collins (1908-1989) was a British artist, printmaker and teacher. Born in Plymouth, Collins trained at the Royal School of Art and visited Paris in 1933, where he was influenced by the work of Paul Klee. In 1936, he exhibited at the London International Surrealist Exhibition at the New Burlington Galleries. His work was aligned with the Surrealist’s re-imagining of the English visionary tradition of William Blake and Samuel Palmer. However, Collins remained independent and of the movement and his work exhibits diverse Modernist and Neo-Romantic influences. This work depicts two geometric abstract figures. One appears to be seated, suggesting an artist at an easel. The title’s reference to a mythological ‘daemon’ reflects the artist’s concern with humanity’s relationship with the spiritual. ","physicalDescription":"Black and white gouache has been layered on a brick-red ground, depicting two geometric abstract figures. Large, gestural brushstrokes of white gouache on a dark background create a luminous effect. Signed and dated, lower right.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Collins, Cecil","id":"A5127"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gouache","id":"AAT70114"},{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"watercolour painting","id":"THES250889"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gouache on paper","categories":[{"text":"Watercolours","id":"THES277714"},{"text":"Surrealism","id":"THES285500"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2023NP9512"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLH","id":"THES49654"},"free":"","case":"WD","shelf":"120","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"watercolour (painting)","id":"AAT78925"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1958","earliest":"1958-01-01","latest":"1958-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"56","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"37.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions taken from departmental notes","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Cecil Collins 1958","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Signed and dated, lower right"}],"objectHistory":"This watercolour was exhibited in the retrospective of Collins’ work: Cecil Collins: retrospective exhibition of paintings, drawings and tapestries from 1928-1959, at the Whitechapel Gallery, London in November-December 1959. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Watercolour, The Artist and his Daemon, by Cecil Collins, gouache on paper, 1958.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Taken from Departmental Circulation Register 1962"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Cecil Collins: retrospective exhibition of paintings, drawings and tapestries from 1928-1959. London: Whitechapel Gallery, 1959."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"artists","id":"AAT25103"},{"text":"demons","id":"x35488"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["CIRC.402-1962"],"accessionNumberNum":"402","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1962,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}