{"product_id":"the-octopus-original-marine-watercolour","title":"The Octopus | Original Marine Watercolour | c.1930-1950","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA wonderfully eccentric original watercolour depicting a large green octopus surrounded by curling tentacles, stylised coral, underwater plants and a tiny red crab.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith its expressive yellow eyes and twisting arms, the octopus has an almost mischievous personality. The soft greens, deep blues, pinks and ochres are beautifully balanced, while the carefully drawn details give the composition a particularly lively, decorative character.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere is a great deal of humour in this painting, from the exaggerated features of the octopus to the tiny creatures hidden amongst the coral. An imaginative and highly individual piece of original artwork.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn intriguing history\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse retains an old handwritten label identifying the subject as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Octopus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and recording the name Miss R. G. Norman, together with an address at Endebess, Kenya.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlso inscribed are the medium \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWater Colour\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a section designation and the words \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNot for Sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese details suggest the work may once have been submitted to an exhibition or competition, although the event and identity of the artist have not been established.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe three related marine watercolours may originally have been intended as decorative designs, but their precise history remains an intriguing mystery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of three original marine watercolours from the same collection, each with its own playful subject and wonderfully imaginative character.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe two companion watercolours, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDandy and Joan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Yellow Peril\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, are also available to purchase individually.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBelieved to date from the first half of the 20th century, circa 1930–1950.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"viki.knott","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57670400672124,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0505\/7295\/1736\/files\/26C59F28-31DE-48FE-BFE6-F5FBC8E0A8B1.jpg?v=1792432439","url":"https:\/\/www.vikiknott.com\/products\/the-octopus-original-marine-watercolour","provider":"viki.knott","version":"1.0","type":"link"}