1965 British Modernist Townscape | E. Meldrum

A striking British modernist townscape, painted in 1965 and signed E. Meldrum. Oil on canvas, presented in its original period frame. The townscape has been reduced almost to a series of shapes. Buildings, rooftops, towers and a bare tree are flattened into blocks of mustard, ochre, olive, cream and charcoal, with very little concern for conventional perspective. There is a strong post Cubist influence, but it remains just recognisable enough as a place. Signed E. Meldrum and dated 1965 lower right. I have so far been unable to establish the identity of the artist and would rather leave it there than invent a biography. The reverse carries the stamp of C. Roberson & Co Ltd, the long-established London artists' colourmen and suppliers. A very good example of mid century British modernist painting and considerably better in the flesh than I had given it credit for.