Signed, titled and dated on the reverse
Negev 1 (1979) was one of a series of works inspired by Derrick Greaves's visit to Israel in 1979. This visit was the result of an invitation to produce work for an exhibition to be held in Tel Aviv and England. On his visit Greaves stayed at Sde Boker, a kibbutz specialising in alternative technology, designed to make the desert more productive.
During walks alone through the desert, Greaves produced many rubbings of the natural landscape. He also visited the tomb of David Ben-Gurion, the former Israeli Prime Minister, where he produced rubbings of the stones on the grave. These rubbings are a direct reproduction of the combined naturalism and societal historicity of the place.
This painting is from a small number of works produced in response to this visit to the Negev desert desert, and reflects the artist's use of collage at this time. The sparse, serpentine lines traversing this epic canvas are a reminder of the lack of natural vegetation in the desert, complemented by the dry background.
In From Kitchen-Sink to Shangri-La (Lund Humphries, 2007), James Hyman writes about Greaves's response to his visit to Negev:
Amongst the most successful responses were the most pared-down works. A small series showing parched plants gain much of their power from their large size and possess a grandeur that belies their delicate forms and economic, though precise, drawing. (p.131)
History
Loughborough and tour, Loughborough College of Art and Design, Forty from Ten, 1986
Literature
Loughborough College of Art and Design, Forty from Ten, 1986, illustrated p.14.
Derrick Greaves: The Pleasures of Drawing, James Hyman Gallery, London, 2005, (cat. 8), illustrated (un-numbered).
James Hyman, Derrick Greaves:From Kitchen Sink to Shangri-La, Lund Humphries, London, 2007, illustrated p.132.