Work of the Week 40: Portrait of Kitty Wilson by Duffy Ayers
oil, 1945 Kitty Wilson was a remarkable woman. Born in Deal, she worked for Dr Barnado’s in Essex for several years, caring for young disabled girls. In 1929 she travelled to Kalimpong in India to look after deprived children, returning to Essex after a few...
Work of the Week 39: Talos by Michael Ayrton
bronze, 1963 Talos was a giant figure who guarded the island of Crete by throwing stones at the ships of any unwelcome interloper. Ayrton wrote of the character of Talos: ‘a certain tranquillity lies in his stupid presence, a certain comfort. He has no brains and no...
Work of the Week 38: Cat & Windmill by Sheila Robinson
linocut, undated Here is a model Great Bardfield lithograph by Robinson. A domestic interior is linked to a rural scene by the gaze of a cat. Sentimentality is held at bay by the economy of means and the stringent design. It reminds me of Matisse’s The Blue...
Work of the Week 37: House on Rocks by George Chapman
aquatint/etching, 1951 George Chapman was famous for documenting the industrial life of South Wales and House on Rocks is no exception. The mill wheel and chimney are placed next to a small house, with hills or even slag heaps in the distance. The technique is of...