Joe Tilson R.A. (1928–2023) – Earth Mantra, 1977
Description
Joe Tilson’s Earth Mantra (1977) is a striking etching and aquatint, incorporating metal and string to create a layered, textural composition. Blocks of colour define the structure and depth, with tonal complexity achieved through the interplay of hues. The repeated word “Earth” resonates throughout the piece, with a central contrast of green set against warm ochres and browns. A metal stencil inscribed with “Earth” is tied with string, further emphasising the work’s material presence. For more details on Joe Tilson please see below.
Details
Medium: Etching Aquatint with metal and string
Dimensions (Unframed): 106.5cm x 75.5cm
Dimensions (Framed): 112.5cm x 81.5cm
Signed: Signed, dated 1977, and numbered 54/71
Provenance: Waddington Galleries, London
Condition: Excellent. The artwork is presented in a glazed wooden frame, with minor marks on the corners consistent with age.
Artist: Joe Tilson R.A. (1928-2023) British
Description
Joe Tilson’s Earth Mantra (1977) is a striking etching and aquatint, incorporating metal and string to create a layered, textural composition. Blocks of colour define the structure and depth, with tonal complexity achieved through the interplay of hues. The repeated word “Earth” resonates throughout the piece, with a central contrast of green set against warm ochres and browns. A metal stencil inscribed with “Earth” is tied with string, further emphasising the work’s material presence. For more details on Joe Tilson please see below.
Details
Medium: Etching Aquatint with metal and string
Dimensions (Unframed): 106.5cm x 75.5cm
Dimensions (Framed): 112.5cm x 81.5cm
Signed: Signed, dated 1977, and numbered 54/71
Provenance: Waddington Galleries, London
Condition: Excellent. The artwork is presented in a glazed wooden frame, with minor marks on the corners consistent with age.
Artist: Joe Tilson R.A. (1928-2023) British
Description
Joe Tilson’s Earth Mantra (1977) is a striking etching and aquatint, incorporating metal and string to create a layered, textural composition. Blocks of colour define the structure and depth, with tonal complexity achieved through the interplay of hues. The repeated word “Earth” resonates throughout the piece, with a central contrast of green set against warm ochres and browns. A metal stencil inscribed with “Earth” is tied with string, further emphasising the work’s material presence. For more details on Joe Tilson please see below.
Details
Medium: Etching Aquatint with metal and string
Dimensions (Unframed): 106.5cm x 75.5cm
Dimensions (Framed): 112.5cm x 81.5cm
Signed: Signed, dated 1977, and numbered 54/71
Provenance: Waddington Galleries, London
Condition: Excellent. The artwork is presented in a glazed wooden frame, with minor marks on the corners consistent with age.
Artist: Joe Tilson R.A. (1928-2023) British
Artist Biography – Joe Tilson R.A. (1928–2023)
Joe Tilson was a leading figure in British Pop Art, known for his vibrant prints, constructed reliefs, and works that merged language, symbolism, and materiality. Born in London in 1928, Tilson studied at St Martin’s School of Art (1949–1952) and the Royal College of Art (1952–1955), where he was a contemporary of David Hockney, R.B. Kitaj, and Peter Blake.
He was deeply influenced by Italian art and culture, moving to Tuscany in the 1970s. His later works, including Earth Mantra, reflect his growing interest in mysticism, nature, and classical mythology.
Exhibitions and Collections
Joe Tilson’s work has been widely exhibited in major galleries and institutions, including:
Tate Britain, London
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The British Museum, London
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York
Centre Pompidou, Paris
His longstanding relationship with Waddington Galleries, London, reinforced his reputation as a significant figure in British art.
