Penelope Ellis (1935-2016)
Peeking inside the barn

Woodblock print
15 x 11 cm
Provenance: From the artist’s estate sale.

​Penelope Mary Ellis (1935–2016) was a British artist celebrated for her conceptual abstract works in the 1960s. Born in Hampstead, London, she was the eldest daughter of artists and educators Clifford and Rosemary Ellis.

Ellis attended the High School in Bath before enrolling at the Slade School of Fine Art from 1953 to 1956, focusing on sculpture. She was awarded a British Institute in Paris Scholarship for the 1956–1957 academic year, allowing her to further her art studies in France. Upon returning to England, Ellis taught art at Badminton School until her retirement in 1997.

Ellis was known for her pioneering conceptual abstract oil paintings in the 1960s, noted for being ahead of their time. Additionally, she created sculptures, ceramics, jewellery, and models, showcasing her versatility and commitment to professional craftsmanship.

This woodblock print depicts a tractor parked inside of a barn with a nearby horse hanging its head over the gate to its stable. Ellis’s lines and shapes are irregular, suggesting either a deliberate folk-art influence or the natural texture of the woodblock carving process. Furthermore, Ellis makes use of the technique of ‘negative space’, creating contrasts between the outline of the tractor and its surroundings.

This composition was likely produced in Ellis’s early artistic career, before she shifted to more abstract conceptual work. In any case, it is a beautiful and evocative piece, capturing a rustic, almost timeless moment with striking simplicity.

Condition: Generally very good.

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