Gwen John

The first critical illustrated biography of this much-loved artist, locating her firmly in the art worlds of late 19th- and early 20th-century London and Paris.

Gwen John was one of the most significant British artists of the early 20th century, a major modernist, and recluse, whose work was long overshadowed by her more celebrated brother Augustus. This critical biography demolishes that myth, locating the artist firmly in the heady art worlds of London and Paris, where she chose to live and work.

Art historian and novelist Alicia Foster vividly paints a portrait of these two cities and their cultural milieu, as she traces the development of John’s work and its significance, as well as exploring John’s relationships, including her close friendship with James McNeill Whistler and her romance with the famed sculptor August Rodin. Less well known is John’s influence on Rainer Maria Rilke, and the significance of her work on the French philosophy, literature and religious thought of the time; her experience of living and working in France during the First World War; and her position in relation to other women artists exhibiting at the Parisian salons and the New English Art club in the 1920s – all discussed here. Among the many luminaries who John knew were Paul Cézanne, Marie Laurencin, Henri Matisse, Paula Modersohn-Becker and Edouard Vuillard; Foster also introduces readers to lesser known artists who have slipped into obscurity.

A compelling portrait for anyone interested in the life and work of a key figure in the history of art, Gwen John: Art and Life in Two Cities will accompany a major touring exhibition that the author is curating, opening at Pallant House Gallery in summer 2023.