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Circles are arranged in offset rows against a white background on this square canvas. Full round circles are pale gray across the center, and the shapes gradually darken as they flatten into ovals that become more elongated as they near the top and bottom edges. This creates the visual impression that the center bulges out at the viewer and curves away at the top and bottom.

Bridget Riley

Balm, 1964

East Building, Upper Level — Gallery 407-C

Medium

oil on canvas

Dimensions

overall: 195 x 195 cm (76 3/4 x 76 3/4 in.)

framed: 196.2 x 196.2 x 3.8 cm (77 1/4 x 77 1/4 x 1 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Burton Tremaine

Accession Number

1970.37.2

Artists / Makers

Bridget Riley (artist) British, born 1931

Image Use

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Provenance

(Richard Feigen Gallery, New York); sold March 1965 to Burton G. [1902-1991] and Emily Hall [1908-1987] Tremaine, Madison, Connecticut; gift 1970 to NGA.

Associated Names

Feigen, Richard L.
Tremaine, Sr., Burton G., Mr. and Mrs.

Exhibition History

1979: Women Artists in Washington Collections, University of Maryland Art Gallery, College Park, 1979, no. 64, repro.

2007: Optic Nerve: Perceptual Art of the 1960's, Columbus (Ohio) Museum of Art, 2007, no. 5, repro.

Bibliography

1975: European Paintings: An Illustrated Summary Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1975: 306, repro.

1985: European Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1985: 352, repro.