- Accompanies an exhibition to be held at the Scottish National Gallery
of Modern Art, Edinburgh from 1 July to 29 October 2017- This is the
only book of its kind, giving an overview of British realist art from
the 1920s and 1930s British realist art of the 1920s and 1930s is
visually stunning - strong, seductive and demonstrating extraordinary
technical skill. Despite this, it is often overshadowed by abstract art.
This book presents the very first overview of British realist painting
of the period, showcasing outstanding works from private and public
collections across the UK. Of the forty artists featured in the show,
many were major figures in the 1920s and 1930s but later passed out of
fashion as abstraction and Pop Art became the dominant trends in the
post-war years. In the last decade their work has re-emerged and
interest in them has grown. Interwar realist art embraces a number of
different styles, but is characterized by fine drawing, meticulous
craftsmanship, a tendency towards classicism and an aversion to
impressionism and visible brushwork. Artists such as Gerald Leslie
Brockhurst, Meredith Frampton, James Cowie and Winifred Knights combine
fastidious Old Master detail with 1920s modernity. Stanley Spencer spans
various camps while Lucian Freud's early work can be seen as a realist
coda which continued into the 1940s and beyond. Featuring many Scottish
and women artists, this book promises a fascinating insight into this
captivating period of British art. Exhibition to be held at the Scottish
National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh from 1 July to 29 October
2017.
