Behind the Print | Bridget Riley – Silvered 2

This luminous screenprint is a wonderful example of the ‘Egyptian Palette’ that came to define Riley’s work after a visit to the country in 1979-80. Referencing ancient tomb paintings and the local landscape, it represented a bolder approach to colour than she had previously explored and was a stepping-stone to the increasingly exuberant palette that would define her later work. Rather than copying exactly the colours she had encountered in Egypt, she worked from memory, basing the work upon sensation and feeling. By embracing the simplicity of the vertical stripe, Riley allowed the work to become a purely visual experience.

“Silvered 2” was printed in 1995 but dated 1981 by Riley to refer to the related painting “Silvered” made that year.