A t first glance, Sept. 53 (Balearic) by Ben Nicholson appears purely abstract — a careful arrangement of lines, planes, and muted tones. But look closer, and familiar shapes begin to emerge: a jug, a goblet, a vase, a cup — all delicately poised on a tabletop.
Nicholson blurs the line between abstraction and representation. His fragmented still-life forms hover and merge like notes in a musical score — weightless, rhythmic, and timeless.
This video explores how Sept. 53 (Balearic) transforms the traditional still life into something ethereal and musical — part object, part architecture, part pure thought. It reflects Nicholson’s balance of precision and spontaneity, structure and freedom, and his distinctive approach to modernism. This is a highlight work of the Modern British and Irish Art Evening Auction presented by St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, taking place at Sotheby's London on 25 November.
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