"Sil I", oil and incised lines on silberit (1933) -Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

“Sil I”, oil and incised lines on silberit (1933) -Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

During a day in Edinburgh in September 2015, I went to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, located just outside the centre of town. The museum consists of two neo-classical buildings, aptly called Modern I and Modern II, where nr. I contains mostly permanent collection, and nr. II is being used for special exhibitions. As so often, not enough time, so I didn’t see the special exhibition of Escher (but in The Netherlands, we do have apt opportunity to make up for that), and I didn’t have enough time for the sculpture garden, but below are a few examples of the remarkably varied collection of the museum. Just to convince you that, should you be in Edinburgh, do go and visit the museum!

"Kopf (head)", oil on canvas (1913) - Emile Nolde

“Kopf (head)”, oil on canvas (1913) – Emile Nolde

There are a number of early 20th Century works, and a couple of attractive, later works from Picasso. There is also British representation, a.o. David Hockney, and international fare, like one of my early favourites, Sandro Chia.

"Landscape", oil on canvas (circa 1921) - Jean Metzinger

“Landscape”, oil on canvas (circa 1921) – Jean Metzinger

"Gelmeroda III", oil on canvas (1913) - Lyonel Feininger

“Gelmeroda III”, oil on canvas (1913) – Lyonel Feininger

"Seated Nude", oil on canvas (1969) - Pablo Picasso

“Seated Nude”, oil on canvas (1969) – Pablo Picasso

"Les Soles", oil on canvas (1940) - Pablo Picasso

“Les Soles”, oil on canvas (1940) – Pablo Picasso

"Rocky Mountains and Tired Indians", acrylic on canvas (1968) - David Hockney

“Rocky Mountains and Tired Indians”, acrylic on canvas (1968) – David Hockney

"Courageous Boys at Work", oil and pastel on canvas (1981) - Sandro Chia

“Courageous Boys at Work”, oil and pastel on canvas (1981) – Sandro Chia

the room dedicated to William Turnbull

the room dedicated to William Turnbull

"Acrobat", a bronze sculpure by William Turnbull

“Acrobat”, a bronze sculpure by William Turnbull

A revelation was the room dedicated to William Turnbull, a native from Scotland and an abstract painter and sculpture. Very impressive works, in a great variety of techniques, from very simple drawings to large oils, and both bronze and stone sculptures.

"15-1958", abstract oil on canvas - William Turnbull

“15-1958”, abstract oil on canvas – William Turnbull

"Circus Figure", ink on paper - by William Turnbull

“Circus Figure”, ink on paper – by William Turnbull

"Untitled (Aquarium)", oil on canvas painting by William Turnbull

“Untitled (Aquarium)”, oil on canvas painting by William Turnbull

"Reflections: art", oil and acrylic on canvas - Roy Lichtenstein

“Reflections: art”, oil and acrylic on canvas – Roy Lichtenstein

A bonus was the special exhibitions of works by Roy Lichtenstein, something that doesn’t always get my undivided attention, but here it did, especially the works inspired by Monet and Picasso. The two examples Modern Art I & II are based on Picasso’s cubist period, and the Water Lillies are after Monet’s paintings of the same subject (the Nympheas paintings). Whether Lichtenstein mocks the works, or pays homage, remains open to debate, but he has stripped the works to sets of essential lines and forms only, producing what the conservator calls a cliché, perhaps a popular image in the style of Lichtenstein, of what had by then, the 1960s, become part of mainstream visual culture – ready to be turned into Pop-Art.

"Modern I", screenprint on paper - Roy Lichtenstein

“Modern I”, screenprint on paper – Roy Lichtenstein

"Modern II", screenprint on paper - Roy Lichtenstein

“Modern II”, screenprint on paper – Roy Lichtenstein

"Water Lilies with Japanese Bridge", screenprinted enamel on stainless steel - Roy Lichtenstein

“Water Lilies with Japanese Bridge”, screenprinted enamel on stainless steel – Roy Lichtenstein

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