Patrick Caulfield - Lung Ch’Uan Ware and Black Lamp

From Caulfield’s iconic White Ware portfolio, Lung Ch’Uan Ware and Black Lamp is a masterful study in tonal contrast and visual precision. A stark white ceramic bottle emerges from a velvety black background, bisected by a bold shaft of white light that seems to glow from within the image. A black lampshade hovers on the right, its presence suggested more by shape and rhythm than detail, while soft touches of muted purple enhance the drama of the surrounding shadows.

Inspired by East Asian ceramics in the V&A’s collection—particularly the refined pale glazes of Lung Ch’uan pottery from Song Dynasty China—this work showcases Caulfield’s fascination with light as both subject and structure. Shadows here are not just byproducts; they’re compositional forces in their own right.

Subtle, smart, and visually rich, Lung Ch’Uan Ware and Black Lamp is a standout piece from one of Britain’s most influential post-war artists.