Design for On Being Ill

Vanessa Bell (1879–1961)

Design for On Being Ill

Ink and graphite on paper, ca. 1930

Elements of Vanessa Bell’s preliminary design for On Being Ill can be found in the final version: the placement and style of the author’s and publisher’s names; the general concept of patterning; the possibility of circular shapes enclosed in a rectangle. She abandoned this direction early on to make significant changes in color and patterning.

A list of names penciled upside down in the upper left margin most likely refer to weekend plans for Bell’s family.