"This work has its origins in a radio play, performed on
Icelandic Radio in the mid-1950s. During the climax of the play, one of the two principal characters, a young abstract painter, hears on the radio that a painting by him has won first prize in a competition. However, when the painting is described, the artist becomes very upset because the description bears no resemblance to his work, which he had entrusted his father-in-law to enter into the competition. The father-in-law admits that the canvas had been accidentally damaged, and to repair the hole he had cut up an old shirt and attached it to the frame. He thought the new painting was no worse than the original painting, and that the results of the competition were proof of that. I was deeply offended by the message of the play, at the same time as becoming irresistibly fascinated by this prize-winning painting as I saw it in my mind’s eye. It was titled: Night."