{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1035754"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1035754/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NP9288/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NP9288/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2023NP9288","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1035754","accessionNumber":"CIRC.390-1962","objectType":"Watercolour","titles":[{"title":"Device","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"John Tunnard (1900-1971) was a British artist associated with the Surrealist and Neo-Romanticist movements. He began his career in textile design and started painting in 1929. In the early 1930s he moved to Cornwall where he began to paint abstract compositions influenced by the Surrealism of Joan Miró and Paul Klee. This watercolour painting evokes a network of imaginary mechanical constructions. Its emphasis on pattern and texture suggests both Tunnard’s experience with textiles and his interest in civil engineering. The artist’s depiction of interdependent floating forms is redolent of the ‘mobiles’ designed by Surrealist sculptor Alexander Calder, whose work Tunnard may have encountered through his friend the British artist Julian Trevelyan.","physicalDescription":"Abstract composition with geometric shapes resembling mechanical or architectural constructions. Watercolour washes over cream paper are combined with blended black chalk to create an atmospheric effect. Pencil and black ink have been used to outline mathematical forms and the pin-prick marks of a protractor are visible. Signed and dated lower left.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"John Tunnard","id":"A7804"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"gouache","id":"AAT70114"},{"text":"watercolour (paint)","id":"AAT15045"},{"text":"pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"chalk","id":"AAT11727"},{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"}],"techniques":[{"text":"watercolour painting (technique)","id":"THES250889"},{"text":"drawing (image-making)","id":"AAT54196"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gouache, ink, chalk and pencil on paper","categories":[{"text":"Watercolours","id":"THES277714"},{"text":"Surrealism","id":"THES285500"}],"styles":[{"text":"Surrealist","id":"AAT21512"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2023NP9288"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLH (VA)","id":"THES49654"},"free":"","case":"WD","shelf":"201","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"watercolour (painting)","id":"AAT78925"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1939","earliest":"1939-01-01","latest":"1939-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"15","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"1962","earliest":"1962-01-01","latest":"1962-12-31"},"part":"","note":"Taken from Departmental Circulation Register 1962"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"21 7/8","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"1962","earliest":"1962-01-01","latest":"1962-12-31"},"part":"","note":"Taken from Departmental Circulation Register 1962"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"John Tunnard 39","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"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Watercolour, Device, by John Tunnard, gouache with chalk and pencil, 1939.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Taken from Departmental Circulation Register 1962"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["CIRC.390-1962"],"accessionNumberNum":"390","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1962,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}