Untitled Self-Portrait
Eileen Agar British, born Argentina
Working from England, and known for her paintings, objects, and photographs, Agar was associated with Surrealism although she remained apart from the political aspects of the movement. Her work was particularly influenced by automatism, a method of accessing the unconscious mind as part of the creative process. After World War II suspended much of her artmaking, Agar returned to Surrealist experimentation to refresh her thinking. Some of her most striking uses of automatism can be found in a small group of poured paintings in which she used pigments to create portraits in loose outlines, fluid drips, and swirling backgrounds. The lyrical Untitled Self-Portrait is a remarkable example that toggles between abstraction and figuration.
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