Artists’ International : The First Decade

Dense exhibition at Tate Britain looking at this artists’ organisation from its foundation in 1933 to the mid-point of the Second World War.

The show focused on two key exhibitions Artists against Fascism and War in 1935 and For Liberty in 1943 on the bombed site of John Lewis. It also discussed the First British Artists Congress in 1937, an event that foreshadowed many elements of official post-war arts policy.

I say dense as there was a lot of information, with fascinating biographies of the artists involved and lots of archive material, as well as examples of their work. I thought I knew this period of art well, but there were lots of new names to investigate and links to people I did know, like Vanessa Bell, who was an advisory council member. I’m off to Google Felicia Browne who did these sketches and was killed in the Spanish Civil War.

I wish I’d had more time for this show and will try to go back and read more of the labels. What looked at first like a slightly dull archive show was packed full of interest.

Closes 15 July 2025


 

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