FRANK BRANGWYN THE GRAPHIC ART OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR AN EXHIBITION AT THE ALFRED EAST ART GALLERY SHEEP STREET KETTERING : REVIEWER LAURENCE HUMPHRIES

This Exhibition n Kettering is worth seeing , although the Gallery is small it has a very good reputation for putting on interesting and varied Exhibitions.

Frank Brangwyn was born in Bruges in 1867. From 1882-1884 he worked under Mackmurdo at William Morris’s Arts and Craft studio, he as a water colourist , etcher and proficient in Jewellry , mosaics and pottery. As the First World war approached Brangwyn used war posters and this Exhibition shows all the varied horrors of the First Imperialist War here thousands died for their Imperial masters.

This Exhibition shows how Brangywn used lithographs to depict the horror of War. “These War posters and printed images were used to influence Public opinion”.  [1].

 

This last lithograph really shows what War meant. Other Lithographs he used were The Watcher of the Dawn, the use of lithographs helped Brangwyn develop these black and white posters using Mass produced images, there is also Pictures of Railway stations , Nurses carrying or helping Soldiers who have been fighting amongst the carnage of Imperialist War.

Brangwyn also used Lino cutting for developing his art. He used lots of the Lithographs to help charities during the War. “The Empire Panels 12,000 in total 1925-1932”. [2].

Brangwyn was clear what Art should be “Art must be the expression of the emotions derived from a serious sympathiser with one’s fellow man. Emotion is the motive power of Man’s wills”. [3].

In his Lithographs which are very expressive using Black against white  to produce very stark images of War.

He produced several other titles such as ‘Ruins of War’ desolation from the French front ,’Red Cross nurse walking wounded 1915′. These war posters as they were referred to showed the unmistakeable style used by Brangwyn working at Morris’s Arts and Crafts Studio.

“Brangwyn’s style by comparison portrayed the grim reality of War,however Brangwyn’s efforts concentrated on raising funds for the RNLI -rehabilitation and retrain permanently blinded Soldiers”. [4].

Brangwyn also produced a Lithograph of the Spanish Civil war as well. “Throughout his life Brangwyn continued to donate a large proportion of his work to charitable causes”

This Exhibition which is beautifully laid out depicts Brangwyn’s monumental ability to depict War in all its Horrors. It should reflect to us that we must strive for a World without War and once and for all eradicate its destructive capabilities. I would urge anyone who lives in the Kettering area  to go to the Exhibition.

FOOTNOTES

1) ALFRED EAST GALLERY  EAST WING

2) ALFRED EAST GALLERY EAST WING

3) ALFRED EAST GALLERY EAST WING

4)ALFRED EAST GALLERY EAST WING