The Red Stage

Mediums: oil, canvas.
Location: The Tate Modern Gallery, London (the UK).

Although this painting is dated 1933, it was finished only in 1936. It is connected with other rather ominous, often surrealistic canvases of Lewis by the concepts of immortality – a reflection on the heavenly (eternal) and underground (perishable) worlds. The theme that fascinated Lewis led to a change in his palette: red-brown “underground” colours prevail here. Lines also changed considerably becoming round and smooth. The artist said about that period, “I changed and am between realistic fantasies and semi-abstraction.” The canvas “Red Stage” was the first work of the master, which a public gallery acquired in 1938.