Summary of the Article: Rediscovering Marlow Moss
This article details the growing recognition of artist Marlow Moss (born Marjorie Jewel Moss), a figure long overshadowed by her contemporary, Piet Mondrian. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
* Rising Recognition: Moss is experiencing a resurgence in attention due too a shift in art ancient focus towards inclusivity and the promotion of women and queer artists.
* Life and Identity: Moss was a British artist who adopted a gender-neutral name and masculine presentation. She lived a non-traditional life with her partner, Netty Nijhoff, navigating a complex relationship that included other partners while Nijhoff remained married to another man.
* Artistic Innovation: Moss was a member of the Abstraction-Creation group in Paris and experimented with “neoplasticism,” the style pioneered by Mondrian. She uniquely used the “double line” in her work.
* The Double Line Debate: Historically, Mondrian was credited with originating the double line technique. Though, recent scholarship suggests Moss may have used it first, and Mondrian was intrigued by her use of it, potentially influencing his own work.the current focus is shifting away from “who did it first” and towards recognizing the exchange of ideas between the two artists.
* Possible Symbolism: Some interpret Moss’s use of the double line – creating space between lines - as a visual representation of her own search for freedom and space as a queer woman in a restrictive society.
* Later Life: Moss returned to Cornwall during WWII due to her Jewish heritage and remained with Nijhoff until her death in 1958.
* Contemporary Relevance: While it’s impossible to know how Moss would identify today, her life and work are inspiring to contemporary queer artists.
In essence, the article highlights the re-evaluation of an artist whose contributions were previously minimized, and explores the complex interplay between her life, her art, and the evolving lens through wich art history is viewed.
