Bridget Riley
Silvered 2, 1981
Screenprint in colours
Sheet: 106.5 x 92 cm
Edition of 75 plus 10 AP
Signed, titled, dated, numbered and inscribed "21 reds, 21 blues, 24 turquoises, 24 yellows, 9 blacks, 8 whites" in pencil
Silvered 2 was printed in 1995 but dated 1981 by Riley to refer to the related painting Silvered made that year. It was produced in tandem with Ra 2, another...
Silvered 2 was printed in 1995 but dated 1981 by Riley to refer to the related painting Silvered made that year. It was produced in tandem with Ra 2, another screenprint based upon a painting made in 1981. By this time in her career, she was making prints as a means of exploring in greater detail the colour relationships suggested by her works on canvas. The artist states that 'the prints were fundamental to my argument about colour relationships: that the same colours related in different ways could give a different range of effects.'
Silvered 2 and Ra 2 are wonderful examples of the 'Egyptian Palette' that came to define Riley's work after a visit to the country in 1979-80. Referencing ancient tomb paintings and the local landscape, it represented a bolder approach to colour than she had previously explored and was a stepping-stone to the increasingly exuberant palette that would define her later work. Rather than copying exactly the colours she had encountered in Egypt, she worked from memory, basing the work upon sensation and feeling. By embracing the simplicity of the vertical stripe, Riley allowed the work to become a purely visual experience.
In this work, Riley lists in pencil the colours used: 21 Reds; 21 Blues; 24 Turquoises; 24 Yellows; 9 Blacks: 8 Whites. The colours are arranged evenly across the image, causing them to soften each other and create the impression of a shimmering, silvery grey. In Ra 2, Riley arranged the same colours differently so that they would intensify each other, creating the opposite visual effect. Although the prints differ slightly from the paintings their aesthetic concerns are the same, and carry their implications further. To literally spell out the mechanism by which her effects are achieved is extremely unusual within Riley's oeuvre, making Silvered 2 a fabulously rare and important piece. She described this print as being the closest she ever came to producing Conceptual art.
The work has been included in a number of Riley's important solo exhibitions: Abbot Hall (1998-99); Pace Prints (2000); Arts Council (2001-03); British Council (2004-05); University of Exeter (2006); Städtische Galerie, Villingen-Schwenningen (2013); Museum im Kulturspeicher Würzburg (2019).
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Framing - This piece has been framed by an experienced in-house framing team to conservation standards. This is included in the price. We use archival materials and 99% anti UV glass to ensure the long-term safety and stability of the artwork. All frames are bespoke, taking into account the precise needs of each piece in terms of preservation and presentation. Click here for more information.
Interest-Free Payment Plan - At Hidden, we believe art should be accessible. Therefore, we have interest-free instalment plans where our customers can spread the cost of their artwork over 12 months. To take the work off the market, we require a 20% deposit. Then, the rest is paid off in equal, monthly instalments. During this period, Hidden will look after your artwork. For more information, please get in touch.
Home Approvals - Want to see the artwork in situ? There is a lot to consider when buying art: artist, subject, age, provenance, budget, and we can only apologise for making it more difficult by having such fantastic works to choose from. To compensate, we’re delighted to be able to offer you a home approval if you live close to one of our Hidden cities. Click here for more information, or feel free to get in touch.
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Hidden focuses on sought after, limited edition prints by the most illustrious artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Click here to view more work from our collection.
**Hidden is compliant with Anti Money Laundering regulations and registered with HMRC in accordance with 5AMLD. This means that should you wish to purchase work/s for the sterling equivalent of 10,000 Euros or over, we will ask you for some additional verification for anti-money laundering purposes.**
Silvered 2 and Ra 2 are wonderful examples of the 'Egyptian Palette' that came to define Riley's work after a visit to the country in 1979-80. Referencing ancient tomb paintings and the local landscape, it represented a bolder approach to colour than she had previously explored and was a stepping-stone to the increasingly exuberant palette that would define her later work. Rather than copying exactly the colours she had encountered in Egypt, she worked from memory, basing the work upon sensation and feeling. By embracing the simplicity of the vertical stripe, Riley allowed the work to become a purely visual experience.
In this work, Riley lists in pencil the colours used: 21 Reds; 21 Blues; 24 Turquoises; 24 Yellows; 9 Blacks: 8 Whites. The colours are arranged evenly across the image, causing them to soften each other and create the impression of a shimmering, silvery grey. In Ra 2, Riley arranged the same colours differently so that they would intensify each other, creating the opposite visual effect. Although the prints differ slightly from the paintings their aesthetic concerns are the same, and carry their implications further. To literally spell out the mechanism by which her effects are achieved is extremely unusual within Riley's oeuvre, making Silvered 2 a fabulously rare and important piece. She described this print as being the closest she ever came to producing Conceptual art.
The work has been included in a number of Riley's important solo exhibitions: Abbot Hall (1998-99); Pace Prints (2000); Arts Council (2001-03); British Council (2004-05); University of Exeter (2006); Städtische Galerie, Villingen-Schwenningen (2013); Museum im Kulturspeicher Würzburg (2019).
For more information on buying art for investment, please click here.
Any questions? We are happy to help. Call: 0117 279 6402 or send us a message now.
Framing - This piece has been framed by an experienced in-house framing team to conservation standards. This is included in the price. We use archival materials and 99% anti UV glass to ensure the long-term safety and stability of the artwork. All frames are bespoke, taking into account the precise needs of each piece in terms of preservation and presentation. Click here for more information.
Interest-Free Payment Plan - At Hidden, we believe art should be accessible. Therefore, we have interest-free instalment plans where our customers can spread the cost of their artwork over 12 months. To take the work off the market, we require a 20% deposit. Then, the rest is paid off in equal, monthly instalments. During this period, Hidden will look after your artwork. For more information, please get in touch.
Home Approvals - Want to see the artwork in situ? There is a lot to consider when buying art: artist, subject, age, provenance, budget, and we can only apologise for making it more difficult by having such fantastic works to choose from. To compensate, we’re delighted to be able to offer you a home approval if you live close to one of our Hidden cities. Click here for more information, or feel free to get in touch.
Worldwide Delivery - We offer free collection from any one of our galleries. Alternatively, we ship worldwide using a fully insured specialist art courier to ensure your new purchase reaches you without any fuss or stress. Please contact us for a quote or visit our Shipping FAQs for more information.
Hidden focuses on sought after, limited edition prints by the most illustrious artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Click here to view more work from our collection.
**Hidden is compliant with Anti Money Laundering regulations and registered with HMRC in accordance with 5AMLD. This means that should you wish to purchase work/s for the sterling equivalent of 10,000 Euros or over, we will ask you for some additional verification for anti-money laundering purposes.**
