Clifford S. Ackley

Read and looked at as a companion to Jenny Uglow’s Sybil and Cyril, a joint biography of the linocut artists Sybil Andrews and Cyril Power. This American exhibition catalogue shows the impact of Italian Futurism and Cubism on British modernist printmaking from the beginning of the Great War to the beginning of World War II, focusing on works primarily by Nevinson, Nash and Bomberg from initial Vorticist works (the first British art movement to embrace modernism), to works illustrating the Great War, to urban living in London and New York.
The book then provides copious illustrations of the colour linocuts promoted by Claude Flight, and taken up by Andrews, Power and Lill Tschudi (who trained at the Grosvenor School in London before returning to Switzerland). These sections of the catalogue are grouped thematically, rather than chronologically, which makes it difficult to see whether techniques are developed. The colour illustrations of Andrews and Power complement Uglow’s joint biography, and the works by other artists help to place their work in context.
Finally, there are two sections on the (short) history and technique of linocut, referencing some of the works illustrated. I found these fascinating and enlightening; they really lifted the book above the level of normal catalogues.

Published by Thames and Hudson to their usual high standards.… (altro)