Author(s): Patrick Elliott

Art

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 demonstrated 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. (Accompanied an exhibition held at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh from 1 July to 29 October 2017.)