King Penguin: Popular English Art
I recently picked up this little King Penguin book entitled Popular English Art. To be perfectly honest, I bought it solely on the splendid cover and as a fellow who enjoys the danger and downright flightiness of a random purchase every now and again, I think it paid off.
The book has turned out to be an effortless journey into the art and craft of common England before the war. Moreover, it is a gentle commentary on the sort of design that emerged from the roots of English folk culture and industry. Featured artworks range from Victorian horse-brasses to Punch & Judy booths, to the botanical lines of canal-barge paintwork. It’s all delivered with the intelligence and intrinsic detail that reminds me considerably of the inimitable Pevsner guides and I dare say it could be utilised in the same way to some extent.
My copy was printed back in 1945, so the acrid smell and the garish colour lithograph printing techniques are all rather nauseous. But somehow these factors add to the charm of this little book. It has made a friendly little companion to me of late and I can recommend tracking a copy down. It’s worth it just for the Clarke Hutton illustrations – especially that cover… That is a nice cover, isn’t it?
Oh yes, you definitely did well not to leave that behind. That’s a great book – such lovely illustrations. I love this kind of thing (Barbara Jones’ The Unsophisticated Arts is a gem) – I will most certainly be tracking a copy down …
Cheers. I’ll check that other book out immediately. I didn’t know she had written a book like that. The more parochial, the better for me on a Sunday night. Ta!