Corridor, Horizon and Ladder, 1 June 2020

Basil Beattie RA (b. 1935)

RA Collection: Art

Beattie’s bold black charcoal drawing unites three motifs. On the left is a tunnel or corridor extending into the distance, framed by arches resembling a garden pergola. On the upper right is an arched window, with a path leading to a horizon and leaning against this window is a three-rung ladder.

Beattie has always blurred the boundaries between abstraction and representation in his work, stating: 'My paintings are abstract to me, but I feel I can put almost anything in. I put things that have references to psychological and emotional concerns that are important to me; but I'm trying to paint them in a way that is not illustrative. I'm fascinated by the representational element - it gives me large and small, a sense of distance. There's intrigue, as well: the curiosity of corridors, colonnades, archways, cloisters. But I withdraw from describing it to myself in a precise way because I want it to remain ambiguous. Perhaps an image - a door or whatever - may invite thoughts of escape; but the sheer physicality of the means prevents there being an escape from the language of painting. I deliberately construct this contradiction.' (Quotation from a conversation with John McEwen published in the exhibition catalogue, Basil Beattie, Todd Gallery, London 1998).