The collection of jugs, mugs, glasses and so on, found in the house of painter William Nicholson were an early influence on his son Ben (1894-1982), and principles behind the construction of still-life painting remained important to Nicholson throughout his career, even in his most abstract geometric constructions. Linocut was particularly favoured by him as a medium throughout the 1920s and 1930s. It provided a means of obtaining a strong linear pattern within an overall painterly surface. Linoleum was also very cheap and easily accessible, which encouraged spontaneity. Ben Nicholson printed in very small editions, usually giving the prints away as presents, but an impression of Three Mugs and a Bowl was in his own possession at the time of his death, suggesting it was a favourite.