A Tree Full of Birds 2 - Victor Pasmore

A striking abstract screenprint by British artist Victor Pasmore, featuring bold, organic blue forms and a balanced, rhythmic composition.

Victor Pasmore was a central figure in the development of British abstract art. Initially associated with the Euston Road School and figurative painting, he underwent a radical shift towards abstraction in the late 1940s. This transition marked his move away from representational subjects towards the exploration of pure form, colour, and spatial relationships.

'A Tree Full of Birds 2' reflects this later period of his career, where he utilised organic shapes and bold, flat areas of colour to construct a visual language that balances order with spontaneity. The composition is dominated by deep, saturated blues that create a sense of weight and presence against the lighter ground. While the title suggests a natural subject, the work functions primarily through its arrangement of rounded, biomorphic forms. These shapes interact with the negative space, suggesting a rhythmic movement across the surface.

Pasmore often experimented with printmaking techniques, finding that the medium allowed for a clarity of line and a consistency of colour that suited his geometric and organic investigations. The inclusion of smaller, contrasting circular elements on the right side of the composition provides a counterpoint to the larger, dominant blue masses. This work demonstrates his interest in the relationship between the viewer and the physical space of the artwork, moving beyond traditional perspective to create a direct, sensory experience. His approach to abstraction remained grounded in a rigorous analysis of visual elements, ensuring that even his most non-representational works maintained a sense of structural integrity and balance.