Derek Carruthers (1935–2021) – Untitled (Procession of Mannequin Figures) – Original Watercolour, Signed and Dated January 1997

This original watercolour, signed and dated January 1997, is by the British artist Derek Carruthers (1935–2021). The composition depicts a large group of articulated artists’ mannequins moving across a gridded architectural surface, their elongated shadows creating a strong sense of rhythm, depth and directional movement.

Arranged in a loosely ordered procession, the mannequins appear to navigate a confined spatial environment defined by planar walls and tiled ground. Carruthers’ elevated viewpoint emphasises pattern and repetition, while subtle variations in pose suggest individual motion within collective flow. The work explores themes of conformity, transition and the systems, both physical and social, that shape human movement.

Executed in watercolour with confident draughtsmanship and controlled tonal modulation, the composition reflects Carruthers’ growing engagement during the 1990s with architectural space as a framework for examining collective behaviour.

During the 1990s, Derek Carruthers increasingly employed articulated artists’ mannequins as both teaching tools and symbolic devices. As Head of Art at Durham University, he used these mannequins to instruct students in proportion, balance and movement. In his own practice, they became anonymous surrogates for humanity, enabling him to explore social organisation and behavioural systems without reference to individual identity.

Carruthers was a prominent figure within Modern British art and part of a mid-century intellectual milieu that included artists such as Victor Pasmore, with whom he shared pedagogical and conceptual concerns regarding structure, abstraction and human experience.

Purchased from the artist’s estate.

Dealer’s Note

This work is an excellent example of Carruthers’ mid-career investigations into collective movement and spatial order. The use of repeated mannequin figures and their cast shadows creates a compelling visual rhythm, while the architectural setting reinforces the artist’s enduring interest in systems and control. Works from this 1990s period are particularly valued for their clarity of intent and direct connection to Carruthers’ role as both artist and educator.

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)