NICHOLSON BEN: (1894-1982) British Abstract Artist. Interesting A.L.S. Ben, three pages, 4to, Ticino, Switzerland, n.d. ('Mon 9th'), to John [Russell]. Nicholson thanks his correspondent for their note and continues to refer to an article (?), 'I think the fact that I was bottom boy of the school in work makes an amusing contrast, couldn't we pop that in? You say ''unheard of'' which is probably an ''easier'' way of saying it but in fact it had never been done before. I have pencilled in various points… where facts are concerned - or where I wished to alter quotes from me. As I see it you could well introduce ''Bloomsbury'' as something that was part of that time & this did affect us because they had considerable power & we then set about forming the 7 & 5 as a place where the new generation of painters could show. The New English Art Club belongs to the previous period & the Slade & Tonks belonged to that'. Further adding 'Picasso's remark to me how is that England's the only country which has not contributed to the Contemporary movement? All they show me is Duncan Grant?' Nicholson further states ''Bloomsbury'' had not got beyond Cezanne & it bred 100's of third rate imitations of Cezanne - they ''Bloomsbury'' had no painters or sculptors? But Fry, Bell, V. Woolf and Keynes etc supplied the vitality.' He also writes about his mother, to whom he is tremendously indebted, remarking 'She was mysterious & enigmatic & silent…. & used simple language. When you say ''Jargonistic'' this is not in her character, whereas ''art talk'' is. Could we not just quote me on this? Which as far as I remember was ''when there was a lot of art talk she remarked it made her want to go & scrub the kitchen table'' as far as the past goes we all see it through our own eyes even though - in this case myself - who took part in it. But it is those who take part in it that are likely to be nearest the truth of the situation.' Nicholson also comments on the current political situation between Czechoslovakia and Russia, concluding 'Meanwhile work is at a standstill - & I read Stevie Smith at bedtime in the Not So Mutchmore Likely event that I shall dream on those lines & not on the cruelty & stupidity of the Russian leaders.' Some extremely minor, light creasing, VG Mabel Pryde (1871-1918) Artist & mother of Ben Nicholson, best known for being the wife of artist William Nicholson.