April 1957 (Celestial Blue)

Nicholson drew early inspiration from cubist still life paintings by Braque and Picasso, but his own works—especially those from the 1950s—go further by embracing almost complete abstraction. His compositions feature deconstructed, silhouetted objects that are largely architectural, that seem to overlap and frame each other in a system of transparent layers. This painting dates to the decade of Nicholson’s greatest success, when the artist was recognized with several international awards and a retrospective exhibition of his work at the Tate Gallery in London.