BURRA, Edward

Edward John Burra CBE (1905–1976) was an English painter, draughtsman, and printmaker, best known for his depictions of the urban underworld, Black culture and the Harlem scene of the 1930s. He studied at Chelsea School of Art until 1923, and from 1923 to 1925 at the Royal College of Art under drawing tutors Randolph Schwabe and Raymond Coxon. He met Paul Nash in the summer of 1925 and Nash offered to teach Burra wood engraving in February 1928. Burra’s first solo show was held at the Leicester Galleries in 1929 but significantly, in October 1929, Burra exhibited with the London Group, presenting the woodblock prints. These were then shown at the Society of Wood-Engravers exhibition at the Redfern Gallery in London.

Edward Burra carved nine woodblocks around 1928–1929. These were then later re-struck and printed in an edition of 45 in 1971 by Alexander Postan (and published by the Nicholas Treadwell Gallery). The series reflects Burra’s early blend of avant-garde European travel experiences, tropical or abstract landscape motifs, and the stylistic encouragement of Paul Nash. The blocks were given to the Tate.

BURRA, Edward

Artworks:

1. ‘Two at a Bar’ SOLD

2. ‘Nude on a Chair’ SOLD

3. ‘Woman with a Tray’ SOLD

4. ‘Guitar Player’ SOLD

5. ‘Roman Remains’ SOLD

6. ‘Boy with a Jug’ SOLD

7. ‘Woman with a Rose’ SOLD

8. Clowns SOLD

9. ‘Royal Favourites’ SOLD