Il Labirinto della Psiche - Victor Pasmore

A striking abstract screenprint by Victor Pasmore, featuring organic green forms and precise lines that explore the relationship between space and perception.

Victor Pasmore was a central figure in the development of British abstract art. Initially associated with the Euston Road School and figurative painting, he underwent a radical shift towards abstraction in the late 1940s. This transition led him to explore the relationship between form, space, and line, moving away from representational subjects to focus on the pure mechanics of visual perception.

Il Labirinto della Psiche displays the organic, flowing aesthetic that defined his later career. The composition is dominated by large, amoebic green shapes that appear to float against a neutral ground. These forms are defined by thin, precise lines that suggest movement and fluidity. The work avoids traditional perspective, instead creating a flat, rhythmic surface that invites the viewer to trace the paths created by the negative space.

Small, deliberate accents of black, yellow, and blue provide a counterpoint to the dominant green field. These elements act as anchors, preventing the composition from becoming entirely amorphous. Pasmore often utilised screenprinting to achieve the flat, uniform colour fields seen here, a technique that allowed him to maintain the clarity of his geometric vision. The title, which translates to The Labyrinth of the Psyche, suggests an internal, psychological journey reflected through abstract geometry. It is a characteristic example of his mature style, where the artist sought to create a visual language that was both rational and intuitive. By stripping away external references, Pasmore allows the viewer to engage directly with the balance of colour and shape, reflecting his interest in the constructive principles of modernism.