{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O36055"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O36055/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NP9738/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NP9738/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2023NP9738","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O36055","accessionNumber":"E.676-1993","objectType":"Watercolour","titles":[{"title":"Linked Islands","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Born in India, Ithell Colquhoun (1906-1988) was a British artist, writer and occultist, associated with the Surrealist movement. From 1939, Colquhoun primarily worked with Surrealist ‘automatic’ processes, in which an element of chance is incorporated into artistic techniques to suppress conscious thought. This is an automatic painting produced through the process of ‘decalcomania’. Paint is applied to two sheets of paper which are pressed together and then removed, creating a chance pattern. Colquhoun uses this pattern to trigger unconscious associations and imagery, which she has worked up with black ink to create the appearance of two islands in the ocean. This work is part of a series inspired by the myth of Santa Warna, the patron saint of St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall. This theme reflects the artist’s interest in esoteric mythology and her love of the costal landscape of Cornwall, where her studio was located.","physicalDescription":"Abstract composition resembling two islands in the ocean. Watercolour, gouache and ink. A blue background has been produced through decalcomania, a process by which paint is applied to two sheets of paper which are pressed together and then removed, creating a chance pattern. Two green and pale-yellow forms are created through the same method. These have been worked up in black ink to depict two islands. On the island to the left, an architectural feature with steps leads to a natural formation resembling tendrils. The smaller island on the left features a purple phallic form. Crosshatching in black ink is used on both islands to create depth. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Colquhoun, Ithell","id":"A3697"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"watercolour (paint)","id":"AAT15045"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"gouache","id":"AAT70114"},{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"watercolour painting (technique)","id":"THES250889"},{"text":"painting","id":"AAT54216"},{"text":"drawing (image-making)","id":"AAT54196"},{"text":"decalcomania","id":"AAT53426"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pen and ink, watercolour and gouache on paper. The artist uses the Surrealist ‘automatic’ technique, decalcomania, a process by which paint is applied to two sheets of paper which are pressed together and then removed, creating a chance pattern. Colquhoun uses this pattern to trigger unconscious associations, which she has worked up into figurative elements with black ink.","categories":[{"text":"Watercolours","id":"THES277714"},{"text":"Woman Artist","id":"THES387590"},{"text":"Surrealism","id":"THES285500"}],"styles":[{"text":"Surrealist","id":"AAT21512"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2023NP9738"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLH","id":"THES49654"},"free":"","case":"WD","shelf":"79","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":"ca. 1947","earliest":"1942-01-01","latest":"1951-12-31"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"32.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"46","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"TOP (with an arrow)","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"on reverse"}],"objectHistory":"Purchased in 1993 from the National  Trust, which was granted custodianship  of Colquhoun's artworks following her  death in 1988.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Watercolour, Linked Islands, by Ithell Colquhoun, watercolour and ink, ca. 1947.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.676-1993"],"accessionNumberNum":"676","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1993,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-07","recordCreationDate":"2000-04-17","availableToBook":false}}