Leon Kossoff

Fisher Fine Art, London
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner in 1975

Colour: The colours in the catalogue illustration is fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is slightly richer and deeper in the original. Condition: This work it in very good condition. The sheet is held to the backing mount in plastic triangular windows at all four corners. There are artist's pin holes and light wear intermittently to all four edges. There is a minor loss to the paper at the extreme top right corner tip.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Leon Kossoff's dynamic work, Children's Swimming Pool belongs to a rare and important series of works executed between 1969 and 1972. His chosen subject: a public swimming pool – at the Willesden Sports Centre - provides a powerful testament to the crucial role that drawing plays in Kossoff's initial engagement with his subject.Typical of Kossoff's oeuvre, the drawing retains a strong personal connection with artist's immediate home and family as it was in the very pool depicted that he taught his son to swim. The artist's vigorous and expressive technique conveys his perceptions of the changes in light, noise and atmosphere and their corresponding effects on his own sensations. The present work is a superb example of this very personal series of works, and embodies the intuition and spontaneity that are characteristic of the artist's inimitable technique.