Total Reverse 2014 is one of six related works on paper by Emin in Tate’s collection, all of them dated 2014 (see Tate T14230 , T14231 and T14233 – T14235 ). It is painted in black gouache on white paper and depicts a reclining female nude. The gouache paint has been applied in a gestural, sparing manner, with swift brush strokes. The composition focuses on the hips and legs of the figure so that her upper body and feet are cropped out of the image. This cropping characterises all six drawings, although in one – All for You (Tate T14231 ) – Emin has included all of the figure’s upper body, depicting her with arms raised and hands clasped ...
