Frank Brangwyn at War
goldmark
‘. . . to see what man may come to
makes my heart bleed. That it should be possible to drive the multitude to
war clearly shows to my mind that so called civilisation is of very little use,
and that unless we get going with the
spiritual side of things it will keep on, just in the same old way.’ Frank Brangwyn, 1939
Catalogue £10
Frank Brangwyn at War
goldmark October 2014
Special hardback - ÂŁ75 edition of 50 only, signed and numbered, with a Brangwyn woodcut from an original block and two photographs from the collection of the author. Standard paperback - ÂŁ25
B RANGWYN AT WAR! by Libby Horner
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Frank Brangwyn at War
Despite rumours to the contrary Frank Brangwyn was
comforts for the soldiers (tobacco for British soldiers,
not an official war artist but he was one of the most
wine for Europeans) then designs for charitable concerns
quantity, design and technical accomplishment. With the
the homeless, the need for women to work and austerity
outstanding poster artists of the Great War, in terms of
exception of Gerald Spencer Pryse, Brangwyn’s work
differed considerably from that of his contemporaries; it was less overtly jingoistic, patriotic and nationalistic;
more artistic and in the tradition of academic European
showing sympathy for the wounded, the orphaned and
(Brangwyn did not appear to produce any work on this
theme). As the war progressed artists began to illustrate
combat but did so from a civilian and historical perspec-
tive with heraldry and patron saints (Brangwyn preferred
painting. It was probably his personal love of Belgium
to remain in the present and rarely dealt with symbolism).
Germany invaded the country.
One could cynically suggest that patriotism was a
For a peace-loving man his early posters were impas-
most of Brangwyn’s drawings for charities were given
which so enraged and motivated the ar tist when
sioned, violent and shocking, especially since it was
unusual and unpopular at the time to depict soldiers in
useful lever by which to keep bread on the table, but
free of charge and many of the large prints produced
by the Avenue Press were a ‘voluntary war contribution’,
the act of fighting. Posters were the main medium of
uncommissioned, a heartfelt response.
different phases. Initially they dealt with recruitment and
In a sense the story of the war can be told through
communication during the war and moved through
war loans (men and money) before progressing to
Brangwyn’s work.
Libby Horner, from Brangwyn at War!, 2014
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1. Refugees Leave Antwerp 2 lithograph, 1915, signed in plate 73.5 x 71.5 cm
ÂŁ950
Frank Brangwyn
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2. British Occupy Dixmude lithograph,1915, signed
67.0 x 59.5 cm
ÂŁ950
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Frank Brangwyn
3. Britain’s Call to Arms lithograph, 1914
105.5 x 152.0 cm
£5950
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4. The Vow of Vengeance lithograph, 1915 73.5 x 48.5 cm
ÂŁ950
Frank Brangwyn
5. War 1
lithograph, 1916
44.5 x 68.5 cm
ÂŁ750
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6. Bombardment, Louvain lithograph, 1915 38.0 x 51.0 cm
ÂŁ650
Frank Brangwyn
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7. Gas Mask
lithograph, 1915
41.5 x 64.5 cm
ÂŁ1250
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12 |
Frank Brangwyn
8. Humanity Calls: United States Appeal lithograph, 1917
98.0 x 148.5 cm
ÂŁ6500
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9. Roll of Honour, Abram Collieries lithograph, 1916, signed 76.0 x 51.0 cm
ÂŁ500
Frank Brangwyn
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10. Canadian Soldiers on a Barricade lithograph, 1915, signed
73.5 x 48.5 cm
ÂŁ950
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11. Germans in Belgium
lithograph, 1915, signed in plate 62.5 x 47.0 cm
ÂŁ1250
Frank Brangwyn
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12. Peronne (Ruins of War) lithograph, 1918, signed
48.5 x 69.5 cm
ÂŁ750
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Frank Brangwyn
13. British Troops at Ypres lithograph, 1915
116.0 x 99.0 cm
ÂŁ4750
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14. Peace
lithograph, c1919, signed in plate 71.5 x 46.0 cm
ÂŁ950
Frank Brangwyn
15. Mars Appeals to Vulcan lithograph, 1915, signed
73.5 x 48.0 cm
ÂŁ650
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22 |
Frank Brangwyn
16. Loading the Field Gun lithograph, 1918, initialled
90.0 x 156.0 cm
ÂŁ5500
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17. Freedom of the Seas lithograph, 1917 46.0 x 74.0 cm
ÂŁ1450
Frank Brangwyn
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18. The Watch on the Rhine lithograph, 1918, signed
31.0 x 40.0 cm
ÂŁ850
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26 |
Frank Brangwyn
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19. Desolation on the French Front lithograph, 1918
91.0 x 138.0 cm
ÂŁ5750
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20. In the Belgian Trenches lithograph, 1916, signed 77.5 x 71.0 cm
ÂŁ1450
Frank Brangwyn
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21. Remaking of Belgium lithograph, 1915
79.0 x 71.0 cm
ÂŁ950
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Before the War
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22. Windmill, Dixmuden etching, 1908, signed 55.0 x 74.0 cm
ÂŁ2750
Before the War
Frank Brangwyn
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23. Santa Maria Della Salute - Venice etching, 1907, signed
54.0 x 80.0 cm
ÂŁ2950
Before the War
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24. The Building of the Ship etching, 1912, signed 69.0 x 90.0 cm
£2950
back cover:
25. Woman’s Work in War lithograph, 1915, signed
59.5 x 47.0 cm
£950
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26. The Ruins of War woodcut, 1918
22.5 x 20.0 cm
ÂŁ450
goldmark Orange Street, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9SQ 01572 821424 See more at goldmarkart.com