Cockerel ,1960
Provenance : [Propriété non datée]
- Acquired from the artist by the current owner
Notes : This monumental image, painted with simplified geometric forms in a vibrant palette, creates a flattened picture plane through which the motif of the cockerel emerges dramatically. Clarke’s stylistic simplification of subject was a result of his prolific practice of sketching, refining the subject and distilling its essence. This, in conjunction with his abundant relief printmaking production, fostered a distinctive and immediately recognisable style.
The iconic image, enhanced by an impasto application of paint with sgraffito detailing, further imbues the subject with symbolic significance. Clarke’s early book collection included exponents of European modernism, including Picasso, which influence can be seen in the background brushwork and the dramatic Cubist geometric shapes. Clarke would also have been aware of the deployment of the cockerel as a symbol of male vitality and potency.
