#gwen john

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Gwen John - The Cat (1904-08)

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Selected Works from Gwen John

Born in 1876, Gwen John became known for her unique artistic style and refusal to change to the art trends of the time. Lesser known is her fluidity around sexuality; indeed, quite a bit of her personal life remains private. John's art is characterized by a combination of introspection and meticulous technique. She is known for her works of women—almost always in a three-quarter length seated pose—children, and pets. What sets her work apart is the application of thicker paint in small touches, creating texture and depth in her compositions. In addition to oil paintings, Gwen John was a talented watercolorist.

Beyond her artistic achievements, Gwen John's personal life added another layer to her legacy. She had relationships, brief and not, with men and women. Her relationships with both men and women, including her well-documented connection with sculptor Auguste Rodin, contribute to the conversation around sexuality and art in the 20th century art scene, particularly that of Paris.

Although Gwen John's work was sometimes overshadowed by her brother, her contributions to the art world should not be overlooked. Her paintings are held in prestigious collections, and her style still sets her work apart today.

You can find these works and more in our gallery!

[canvasmirror]

Gwen John (British/Welsh, 1876-1939) • Self-Portrait • 1903

" In talking, shyness and timidity distort the very meaning of my words. I don't pretend to know anybody well. People are like shadows to me and I am like a shadow. " – Gwen John

[the-cricket-chirps]

Gwen John

Cat

c. 1904-1908

[catsofyore]

The Cat. Ca. 1904 - 1908. Source.

[thunderstruck9]

Gwen John (British, 1876-1939), Portrait of a Lady Reclining, c.1910. Pencil and watercolour on paper, 7 3/4 x 10 1/4 in.

[roborevolutionaryrenditionsblog]

[psikonauti]

Gwen John (Welsh,1876-1939)

Portrait of a Reclining Woman

Pencil and grey wash on paper

[pintoras]

Gwen John (Welsh, 1876-1939): Girl Reading at a Window (1911) (via Wikimedia Commons)

[literaryvein]

L. V., i found this poem when a stranger bumped into me on a busy sidewalk and we both said sorry at the same time

Robin: "...I found your blog when you posted, “I want to be so awfully happy that I never need to write poetry again.” I am also a writer and that resonated with me. Whenever I am happy it becomes difficult for me to write..." "...they made me so happy that I stopped writing..." "...I prayed to all the gods I know just for us to get back together again..."

The Brown Tea Pot by Gwen John

[aiinspiredmasterpiecesblog]

[random-brushstrokes]

Gwen John (Welsh, 1876 - 1939) - Study of a tabby cat

[ourstaturestouchtheskies]

Self Portrait at an Easel - Sofonisba Anguissola // Self Portrait - Mary Cassatt // Self Portrait with Two Pupils - Adélaïde Labille-Guiard // Self Portrait - Gwen John // Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria - Artemisia Gentileschi // Self Portrait in a Straw Hat - Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun // The Man - Taylor Swift

[granstromjulius]

Gwen John

[the-cricket-chirps]

Gwen John

Self-Portrait

1902

[novemb-r]

"Graves, in their neat rows like houses in the streets, their doors firmly locked, are our attempt at preserving the boundaries that identify an individual life. But the dead rise up into the upper air and are possessed by anyone who breathes. There is no such thing as respect for the dead and we are all grave robbers."

Letters to Gwen John by Celia Paul.