Helen Saunders: Modernist Rebel: Modernist Rebel

The Courtauld presents Helen Saunders (1885–1963), the first monographic exhibition devoted to the artist in over 25 years. After years of obscurity, Saunders' work is being reconsidered as an important part of British modernism. The exhibition features 20 drawings gifted in 2016 by Brigid Peppin, the largest public collection of Saunders' work in the world. The drawings trace Saunders' artistic development in the orbit of Roger Fry and the Bloomsbury Group, to the ground-breaking abstraction of Vorticism. Following the war, Saunders turned to figuration, developing her own approach to landscape, portraiture and still life. The exhibition includes essays by Brigid Peppin and Jo Cottrell on Saunders' artistic education and career and her relationship to the places of Vorticism in London.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 84 pages
Publication date: 28 October 2022
Publisher: Paul Holberton Publishing Ltd

The Courtauld presents a comprehensive catalogue that accompanies its exhibition of the remarkable work of Helen Saunders (1885–1963), marking the first monographic exhibition dedicated to the artist in over 25 years. After years of obscurity, Helen Saunders: Modernist Rebel reevaluates her contributions to British modernism, recognizing her as one of the pioneering British artists to embrace abstraction. Saunders stood out as one of only two women to join the Vorticists, a radical yet short-lived art movement that emerged in London just before the outbreak of World War I. Her exceptional drawings vividly capture the energy and dynamism of modern urban life, as well as the devastating consequences of mechanized warfare. Post-war, Saunders diverged from the Vorticist movement and pursued her artistic path, exploring a more figurative style. Unfortunately, due to the loss of a substantial portion of her oeuvre, including all of her Vorticist oil paintings, Saunders fell into obscurity. However, in recent years, her remarkable work has begun to be rediscovered and celebrated as a vital component of British modernism's history.

In 2016, her relative, the artist and writer Brigid Peppin, generously gifted a collection of 20 drawings to The Courtauld, making it the world's largest public collection of Saunders's work. These drawings provide a captivating glimpse into Saunders's artistic journey, charting her development within the orbit of Roger Fry and the Bloomsbury Group, which was deeply immersed in contemporary art in France. They also showcase Saunders's pioneering exploration of abstraction with the Vorticists, a movement that emerged just before World War I. Following the disruptions of the war and the disbandment of the Vorticists, Saunders returned to figuration, developing her unique approach to landscape, portraiture, and still life. She would continue to pursue these artistic endeavors independently for the remainder of her career, exhibiting sporadically and never joining another group of artists.

The catalogue further explores Saunders's interest in landscapes, shedding light on her artistic exploration of the natural world. These drawings showcase her keen observation of nature and her ability to capture its essence in her unique style. Through her work, Saunders invites viewers to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the world around us, reminding us of the enduring legacy of her artistic contributions.

In conclusion, the Courtauld's exhibition of Helen Saunders's work, accompanied by a comprehensive catalogue, offers a profound appreciation of this remarkable artist's contributions to British modernism. Through her exceptional drawings and her unwavering artistic journey, Saunders has left an indelible mark on the history of art, and her work continues to inspire and captivate audiences today.

Dimension: 210 x 210 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913645311