Ben Nicholson’s attraction to the play of different materials is evident in this painting, in which he layered oil paint and graphite onto the plywood panel. Nicholson then used a razor blade to carve away the surface, revealing a layer of the wood support underneath. Razors were one of Nicholson’s favorite tools during the 1960s. He called them “very sensitive instruments and no sharpening necessary as you merely take a fresh one.” Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2016