Derek Carruthers (1935–2021) – Untitled (Chromatic Mannequin Figures) – Original Watercolour, Dated February 2004

This original watercolour, dated February 2004, is by the British artist Derek Carruthers (1935–2021). The composition depicts a central articulated artist’s mannequin flanked by overlapping, colour-segmented mannequin forms rendered in vivid hues of purple, green, yellow and red, set against a pale blue ground.

The superimposition of figures suggests movement through space and time, creating a rhythmic interplay between repetition and variation. Carruthers’ use of colour serves both a formal and conceptual purpose, distinguishing individual positions while reinforcing the underlying uniformity of form. The work explores themes of identity, multiplicity and collective presence, while maintaining the artist’s characteristic removal of personal features.

Executed in watercolour with clear line and confident colour application, the composition reflects Carruthers’ later practice, where clarity of structure and chromatic experimentation played an increasingly prominent role.

By the early 2000s, Derek Carruthers had long established the articulated artist’s mannequin as the central motif of his practice. Used extensively during his tenure as Head of Art at Durham University, these mannequins functioned both as pedagogical tools and as symbolic devices within his own work.

Carruthers was a prominent figure within Modern British art, operating within the same intellectual milieu as artists such as Victor Pasmore, with whom he shared an interest in structure, abstraction and the relationship between form and human experience. His later works often demonstrate a synthesis of disciplined structure and expressive colour.

Dealer’s Note

This is a lively and visually engaging example of Carruthers’ later work, notable for its confident use of colour and layered movement. The overlapping mannequin forms introduce a sense of dynamism while remaining grounded in the artist’s lifelong exploration of structure and collective identity. Dated works from the early 2000s provide valuable insight into Carruthers’ mature thinking and remain appealing to collectors of Modern British figurative art.

Condition Report

Great condition - Purchased from the artist’s estate

Measurement

Height:        82 cm   /     32.28 inches (with mount)

Width:         61 cm   /      24.01 inches (with mount)

Height:        71 cm   /      27.95 inches (without mount)

Width:         50 cm   /     19.86 inches (without mount)