Composition, 1965 (oil on canvas)

The curving outlines of the colour blocks in this picture create a suggestion that the picture contains space that curves inwards and outwards, offsetting the flatness of the colour. The picture's large scale, bold colour and hard-edged shapes are characteristic of Peter Joseph's work of the 1960s. The pared-down character of the composition reflects the influence of Minimalism. In this abstract art movement, the artwork refers only to itself, focusing on relationships of form and colour. Peter Joseph took up art after abandoning a career in advertising.