San Raphael (Córdoba) - Terry Frost

A screenprint by British modernist Terry Frost, featuring abstract fish forms and celestial shapes inspired by his time in Spain.

Terry Frost, a central figure in the St Ives School, produced this screenprint during his later career. The work reflects his long-standing fascination with the light and coastal atmosphere of the Mediterranean, specifically referencing the Spanish city of Córdoba. Frost often reduced his observations of the natural world into geometric components, prioritising the arrangement of colour and shape over literal representation.

The composition features two fish-like forms suspended in a stark, white field. The upper figure is rendered in a deep, saturated blue, punctuated by a yellow eye and a cluster of darker blue circular marks. Above this form, vertical bars in blue and pink suggest movement or perhaps the reflection of light upon water. A crescent moon shape sits in the upper right, echoing the curve of the fish and providing a celestial balance to the aquatic subject. Below, a ghost-like, pale fish form occupies the lower portion of the print, anchored by a wavy line that suggests the surface of the sea.

Frost utilised screenprinting to achieve flat, clean areas of colour, which allowed him to experiment with the interplay of positive and negative space. The horizontal black lines that traverse the composition act as structural markers, dividing the space and providing a sense of rhythm. This print demonstrates his ability to distil complex visual experiences into a simplified, rhythmic language. The work avoids unnecessary detail, focusing instead on the clarity of form and the relationship between the objects on the page. It is a characteristic example of his mature style, where the influence of the Cornish coast meets the warmth of the Spanish sun, resulting in a balanced, rhythmic arrangement of abstract elements.