Canadians were stationed near here in both World Wars … we think of War but don't often relate to which one … sad, but true …
A blog post had sent me off to the Group of Seven landscape artists, who were prominent Canadian artists practising at the Algonquin School, Ontario (1920 – 1933) …
Cuckmere River running out to the
English Channel with its oxbow lakes
… a group I had heard about because Emily Carr, the Modernist and Post-Impressionist style artist lived on Vancouver Island - where I encountered her, was associated with the group.
I am getting to my point for the post! … for whatever reason I decided to read on about the Group of Seven, then came across a view I immediately recognised … but it was of the Cuckmere Valley, Sussex in 1918 … so now … I looked further.
Frederick Varley's 'The Gas Chamber at
Seaford' (1918)
Lord Beaverbrook (1879 - 1964), a Canadian-British newspaper publisher, had recommended, Frederick Varley, (1881 – 1969), as a World War One war artist … hence he was commissioned to Sussex.
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| Our iconic view from Seaford Head looking eastwards towards Eastbourne |
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| c/o BBC March 2023 |
… it too today retains its dangers … a new crack has opened up – danger on the cliffs, danger below …
This iconic view has over time drawn professional and amateur artists to spend time here enjoying painting en plein air. Graham Greene and H.G. Wells both referred to walking in this area …
So to tie this in … Eric Ravilious (1903 - 1942), a British painter, designer, book illustrator and wood-engraver, grew up in Sussex being particularly known for his watercolours of the South Downs and love of the Seven Sisters' coastline and Downland …
Eric Ravilious (c 1939)
Cuckmere Haven
He served as a war artist and was the first British artist to die on active service in WW II when the aircraft he was in was lost off Iceland.
I was surprised and interested to see Varley's art – 'The Gas Chamber at Seaford' – giving us an idea about the training for the mustard gas attacks that had started to be used in WW1 …
… and being able to jot down a few notes here covering the above aspects … and a few more links to be found below should they interest you …
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Seven Sisters chalk coastline looking west
Obviously there's another war link today … we have Ukraine refugees here …
East Sussex WW1 - gas chamber information ...
Eastbourne College - Summerdown WW1 camp
Frederick Varley (1881 - 1969)
Self-portrait ... found at this interesting website: Thematic Stamp Collection ... details of Varley's self-portrait on the 17c stamp issued 1981 - painting completed c 1945
Eric Ravilious - a film entitled 'Drawn to War' ... preview of film here ...
I'm recovering from being off colour and fed up with things ... but all well - and I'll get to the English language posts shortly ... have two talks to give on Monday ... after that!
Hilary Melton-Butcher
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30 comments:
Welcome back to normal life, Hilary :)
I hadn't written about the Canadian Group of Seven for many years, nor have I seen them in any of the art history journals I normally read. And I am very pleased to see Eric Ravilious again, especially since he died so young. Perhaps their landscapes were so gentle that they couldn't compete with more in-your-face interwar art.
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Many thanks, Hels
Art and war. Not something we usually associate.
Liz A: War and art are very much associated. There are always official war artists. One of Britain's best was Paul Nash; his paintings are still haunting!
This is all new to me. I am very interested in war art. I am in the middle of preparing a future Blog post about Ronald Searle (the creator of the St Trinians girls) who spent much of WW2 in a Japanese POW camp. His images of that side of war are very evocative and sometimes shocking.
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I don’t know those painters at all - interesting, thanks.
Hari Om
What an interesting tie-in - vaguely familiar but not a group I have followed up on, but will now read a little more!
Oh, you mentioned feeling the same as me... it is a nuisance, isn't it? Here's to us both throwing off the lurgy! YAM xx
I love the way information available today allows us to connect people and places throughout history. Certainly, wen you think of war, you don't immediately think of art. This was a very interesting post.
I love the photos of the white cliffs which I visited years ago and the stories of the painters. I hadn't thought of painters during wars. My church is looking out for a family of Ukraine refugees, they are far from home here in California.
Beachy Head is really cool.
War artists, along with photographers, have always had an important role to play, and not one most of us would relish.
That's a sizeable chunk of Beachy Head about to collapse into the sea. So much of the coastline, east and west, is endangered. I feel for folks who live too close to the edge.
Sorry you've been under the weather. Be kind to yourself and take it easy - something I suspect you find difficult to do!
@ Hels - thanks for the welcome back ... slowly. I know very little about the Group of Seven, but became aware of them out in Canada ... and living here I knew of the huge contingent of Canadians who were billeted here, also who recuperated from their wounds. Their associate, Emily Carr, I paid attention to ... as she was very connected with Vancouver Island and I saw a lot of her work.
Eric Ravilious - there's a film out 'Drawn to War' ... which is superb - about his life ... and we have a lot of his work at the Towner Gallery nearby.
I have noted a few other war artists in my posts ... but they had to adapt to paint or draw what they saw ...
@ Liz - yes we don't think that way do we ... but artists and creative peoples were essential to our understanding of war - in Ukraine similar is happening now ...
@ Bazza - I know so little about art - but I have a few posts on it - learning as I blog on. I hope you give us some posts from your side - so I'm looking forward to your Ronald Searle post - yes I vaguely remember the Japanese connection ... and his incarceration ...
@ Anabel - we live and learn a little at a time don't we - that's why I love blogging ...
@ Yam - yes I guess we are 'chogging' along very slowly - I see you're behind me in improving ... hope all goes better soon. Thanks for letting me know how to spell lurgy!
Thanks re looking at the links - it's something I'd never considered til I started to write the odd post - now I'm aware ...
@ Dan - thanks ... like you I love the connections that get thrown up - only snippets, but enough to whet the knowledge appetite. But as you mention we don't think of art and war in the same breath do we ... but as we know it's the way we're informed historically about it ...
@ Terra - that's great to know that you've visited the South Downs and this part of the world so you can recognise the places. The Ukrainians are being looked after - along with such devastation on their family lives ... such an unnecessary and unfair war.
@ Diane - thanks ... this part of the world is beautiful ...
@ Janice - I agree ... I remember reading at the Towner about either John Nash, or his brother, Paul - who didn't want to be conscripted to be a World War One artist - when they were starting out on their careers. But their work leaves us more aware of what life was like ... just horrific.
That chunk of cliff is enormous isn't it ... not long before it crumbles away ... and yes - so many parts of our coasts are at risk at the moment ... still it's the way our land has been built or lost over the epochs: it was how the English Channel came about ...
Thanks - a combination of a few things catching up - and mostly me not settling down to things ... mind over matter!
Cheers everyone - we have some sun today ... but for how long - still Spring is around the corner - appreciate your thoughts - I am feeling easier - Hilary
Hello Hilary: The Group of Seven are iconic in Canada, well-known and well-loved. The American comedian and actor, Steve Martin is a great champion of their work and has become a real ambassador for them. I have a friend who has an original A.Y. Jackson work on his wall, and I can't imagine what that might be worth these days. He also has two original Homer Watson paintings, another great Canadian painter with links to this area. In Kleinburg, ON the McMichael Gallery houses a comprehensive exhibit of Group of Seven works. When you visit southern Ontario I will take you there. Bisous - David
Are your talks recorded, Hilary? Can we get to see them?
Sorry you've been a bit off.
I can see why so many artists were drawn to the area. Quite stunning.
Glad you are feeling better. Hope as more spring days dawn, you'll be back to your fighting self. Speaking of fight - war artists certainly bring a unique perspective to the actual situation. True for photographers these days. They bring in some humanity and the nature to a horrible act. You tie things together so well - just circles of life and now Ukrainian refugees. Wow.
Hope you are full of color and feeling well. Good luck with the talks.
Cheers,
@ David - yes I realised the Group of Seven are revered in Canada ... I only spent time with Emily Carr as she was so tied in to Vancouver Island.
Anyone who owns one of their works is very fortunate, while I didn't know Steve Martin is a great art lover, which I see he is ... but thank you - I'd love to visit the McMichael Gallery ... I had a quick peek ... a dream to think about for the future - sounds great fun.
You have to be joking - except you're obviously not ... nope the talks aren't recorded - I'm still considering things in that direction ... I'll be lucky if the stars align - we'll see! Appreciate the thought though ...
@ Alex - still off, sadly - it's taking its time going away. Yes - our coastline is spectacular and much loved by many ...
@ Joanne - not completely better ... but I hope by next week it'll be easier. War artists educate us about war after the event and are there for the future to remind us of the horrors of those days.
Thank you ... I enjoy achieving a post that resonates with friends around the world ... and it is as you say the circle of life ... desperate times ...
@ Sandra - still improving ... I'll be glad when the talks are over ... still a bit of work to do today on them ...
Thanks so much to you all - happy St Patrick's weekend - cheers Hilary
Sorry to hear you've been under the weather, Hilary; hope you're well on the mend now. I love Cuckmere and the Seven Sisters, an' all. A favourite part of the world - and it has been featured on ABAB. As you know, there are still pillboxes and other defensive works on the way down to the beach. I don't know whether you're on Twitter, but there's an Eric Ravilious account that regularly posts photos of his work.
Sorry you've not been feeling well, Hilary. Hope all is well, in the meantime! I enjoyed learning more about Frederick Varley and his connection to your part of the world. You have some stunning scenery there!
Art and war make strange but frequent bedfellows, don’t they, Hilary? Thank you for introducing us to the Group of Seven. The landscape there is fantastic, but it’s a shame to see that new crack. I’m sorry you’ve been feeling under the weather, Hilary. Sending a hug your way!
@ Mike - thanks .. just grotty ... yes, today I think things are feeling distinctly better. Yes - there's still lots of war remnants around, as too tunnels. I'm not on Twitter - fortunately the Towner is 5 minutes away and has his works on permanent display.
@ Debbie - all is well - just 'down in the dumps' temporarily as I plug through the lingering frot-cold! That's great you enjoyed seeing the Varley work - we do have some wonderful scenery around here - it's gorgeous ...
@ Val - Art and war do make strange bedfellows - but so necessary for our historical records. I should have learnt more about the Group of Seven when I was out in Canada - but I never did ... just their association with Emily Carr.
The chalk of the Seven Sisters area is very fragile and people don't realise - the danger is from the top, as well as below on the beach - that's almost more dangerous.
Thanks so much for your get well thoughts - from the three of you ... much appreciated - today I feel like it's almost past - which is bliss (will be bliss!) - cheers Hilary
How blessed we are to live close to these wonderful cliffs! The view of the cottages facing Eastbourne is one of the most photographed and filmed locations in the UK. As for erosion, the situation at Birling Gap is very serious. I miss having a pint on the veranda at the hotel!
A beautiful area to paint and find inspiration, but, oh, that crack is a severe one, isn't it?
How did the talks go? Hope you are feeling all better.
Those chalk cliffs are magnificent.
Cheers,
@ Keith - we are blessed to live down here - and yes one can't help but see those cottages used as backdrops for so many subjects (as you mention). I'm sure you miss that pint at Birling Gap - it is very sad how quickly it's eroding ... but that's chalk's life ...
@ Annalisa - I'm glad your wrist is improving ... and yes that crack is extremely dangerous especially for anyone below ...while being on the Downs is inspiring ... it's such a beautiful area ...
@ Sandra - thanks I am finally feeling better - each day improves. The talks went well - in fact my next post will be about them ... probably tomorrow at the rate I'm going today! Our scenery around here is gorgeous - we're lucky ...
Cheers to the three of you ... it's not too bright a week - but we do need the rain, so I look forward to it being slightly warmer ... take care one and all, and thanks for your comments and visiting - Hilary
That crack does look dangerous. Hope no critters or folks tumble into it.
Art and war.. this is so interesting 🤔
@ Sandra - we're having not particularly good weather at the moment, so I imagine the crack will break away soon ... and yes I hope all will be safe.
@ Ashok - thank you - art and war ... so interesting to have these views available for us over time.
Thanks you too - great to have your comments - cheers Hilary
I hope you are feeling better with the onset of spring, Hilary. I didn't know about Steve Martin and his love of art, either. He is involved in so many creative endeavors - who would have guessed all that from his early comedic career, but he is a serious writer and musician. The white cliffs are so beautiful, and the 1918 gas chamber (training tent?) horrifying. I've seen war art before (there are some nice pieces in the capital building of our state of South Carolina)but many I've seen seem to glorify war rather than show its true horror. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
Hi Alana - thanks for visiting ... and yes later in the week - it'll be a little warmer and the wind will have dropped, and I do feel better at long last. It's interesting about Steve Martin and his love of art - there's quite a few others who are passionate about cultural subjects over and above their success.
There are some superb pieces of Art about War ... that piece of art depicts a trench for training should troops be gassed in World War One - but yes - some art does glorify the result of war.
Thanks for being here and commenting - cheers Hilary
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