Secret Laugh
Secret LaughCategory: Paintings by Maggi Hambling
Artist: Maggi Hambling
Subject: Towards Laughter
Year of Work: 1991
Media: oil on canvas
Size: 84" x 60"
This painting and the inspiration behind it is featured on pages 125 and 128 of the recent monograph published by Unicorn Press.
The painting was included in the 1993-4 solo exhibition Towards Laughter which opened at the Northern Centre for Visual Art and then toured. In the catalogue accompanying the exhibition, George Melly wrote: 'Maggi has pursued the laugh as Bacon has pursued the scream. She, like him, exploits chance and welcomes it, but unlike him she moves in on the laugh, so close as to remove any items of reference beyond a suggestion of fishnet stockings ('Brothel Laugh') or thin streaks of blood ('Suicide Laugh'). These are extraordinary and unique images. She knew when they didn't work (she destroyed many) but those she passed, whether on paper or on canvas, will come to be seen, and I am quite convinced of it, as among the great images of our time'.
This picture is also featured in, 'Maggi Hambling, the Works' by Andrew Lambirth. Book available from this website. See publications.
Price on application, please contact us.
