Painting Childhood

Children have been a popular subject for artists throughout history, and Painting Childhood will explore some of the most iconic paintings of children produced over the past 500 years. The book will examine the creative process and the challenges posed by painting children, featuring stunning portraits, amusing genre scenes, and touching 'fancy pictures'. It will also discuss intimate portraits by artists such as Stanley Spencer, Louise Bourgeois, Jacob Epstein, and Lucian Freud, as well as the work of three contemporary figurative painters who depict childhood in different ways.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 96 pages
\n Publication date: 16 March 2019
\n Publisher: Paul Holberton Publishing
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Children have always captivated the attention of artists, and Painting Childhood delves into some of the most iconic paintings of children created over the past 500 years. This captivating book features stunning portraits, amusing genre scenes, and touching 'fancy pictures,' offering a comprehensive examination of both the creative process and the unique challenges posed by painting children. From capturing the fleeting moments of youth to encouraging young subjects to sit still, artists have navigated a myriad of artistic challenges throughout history. Accompanying the exhibitions Painting Childhood: From Holbein to Freud and Childhood Now, the book explores a wealth of masterpieces from British collections by renowned artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger, Anthony van Dyck, Jan Steen, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, Johan Zoff any, and John Everett Millais. These iconic paintings, alongside their preparatory sketches and subsequent works, provide a deep insight into the creative process and the artistic dialogues that have unfolded throughout centuries. Painting Childhood also delves into intimate portraits, where artists portray their own children. Paintings, sketches, and sculptures by artists like Stanley Spencer, Louise Bourgeois, Jacob Epstein, and Lucian Freud offer highly personal insights into the role of family within an artist's life, and the ongoing dialogue between biography and creativity. This theme extends to the present day, with the work of three contemporary figurative painters, Chantal Joffe, Mark Fairnington, and Matthew Krishanu, who are drawn to children as subjects. Each of these London-based artists presents a distinct perspective on childhood, contributing to a fresh understanding of what constitutes childhood in the modern world. Together, they reaffirm the enduring power and diversity of painting as an artistic medium.

\n Weight: 442g\n
Dimension: 258 x 215 x 8 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781911300564\n \n