Born in Argentina (1899-1991), Eileen Agar pursued her fine art studies at the Slade, London, and subsequently moved to Paris in 1929, becoming a prominent figure in the Surrealist Movement. In 1936 Agar was the only British female artist to take part in the ‘International Surrealist Exhibition’ in London. Agar began training with the Czech Cubist, František Foltýn in France in the early 30s, which in turn introduced her to experiment with abstraction.

‘Constructivist Composition’ was part of Whitechapel Gallery’s touring exhibition Eileen Agar: Angel of Anarchy. The exhibition catalogue states: ‘Constructivist Composition is perhaps one of Agar’s most purely abstract works. The influence of the tutelage that Agar received from Foltýn – who taught her ‘about sensitivity to form while trying to cultivate colour, planes and composition’ – is particularly clear in the work’s palette of blacks, whites and greys, as well as its taut composition. The work also reveals Agar’s curiosity for organic shapes and variations of natural textures. ‘Constructivist Composition’ is a rare and early work that demonstrates Agar’s involvement and interest in the British abstract movement in the 1930s.’

‘Constructivist Composition’ was in the collection of Alexander Postan prior to being acquired by Gillian Jason Gallery. Agar’s work is currently in the collections of the Tate in the UK, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Royal Academy of Arts (London), the Arts Council Collection (Southbank Centre) (London), the Hepworth Wakefield (Yorkshire), the National Galleries of Scotland (Edinburgh), and the Ingram Collection of Modern British and Contemporary Art (London).