OlympusBarbara Hepworth · 1971

The Creation of Olympus by Barbara Hepworth

Barbara Hepworth produced the artwork titled Olympus in 1971. This piece belongs to the Aegean Suite, a series of works the artist created following a trip to Greece in 1954. The work is a lithograph on paper. It emerged during the final years of Hepworth's life, a period during which she experimented with lithography.

The creation of Olympus reflects the artist's engagement with the landscapes and mythology of Greece. Through this lithographic process, Hepworth translated her sculptural sensibilities into a two-dimensional medium. The composition utilizes a specific color palette of red and yellow to establish its geometric structure. This series of prints remains a significant part of her late-career output.

Visual Composition and Geometric Forms

The composition is centered on a red rectangle. This central form is bisected horizontally by two yellow circles. The circles are not aligned on a single axis; instead, they are positioned at slightly different heights. This placement creates an asymmetrical balance across the red field. The arrangement of these shapes establishes a sense of stability alongside a sense of dynamism.

The interaction of the yellow circles and the red rectangle produces a visual effect of movement. The shapes are defined by their geometric properties. The circles vary in size and position, which contributes to the overall structure of the piece. The use of color and shape creates a specific tension between the grounded rectangle and the floating circles.

Technique and Artistic Materials

This work is a lithograph executed on lithograph paper. The medium allows for a precise application of color across the surface. The composition utilizes a palette of red and yellow, applied in a manner that emphasizes the saturation of the pigments. These colors appear in distinct blocks and gradients throughout the rectangular and circular forms.

The application of pigment involves a specific layering of colors. This technique is used to mimic the way light interacts with the surfaces of sculpted objects. By building up these layers, the print achieves a sense of visual depth and an illusion of three-dimensionality. The transitions between the red background and the yellow shapes rely on these subtle gradations to define the edges and the perceived volume of the geometric elements.

Related Works by Barbara Hepworth

Several other works by Hepworth are held within the collection at The Hepworth Wakefield. These include the 1969 piece titled Disc with Strings (Moon) and the 1943 work known as Oval Sculpture. These objects reside in the same institution that houses the artist's various sculptural and lithographic explorations.

The permanent display at The Hepworth Wakefield also contains Three Oblique Forms (February). This sculpture is positioned within the museum's collection alongside Curved Form (Pavan). Both works exist as part of the established holdings at the gallery in Wakefield, United Kingdom.