Edward John Burra
Izzy Orts1955This painting shows Izzy Orts, a popular bar and dance-hall once located at the docks in Boston, but now demolished. Burra was a frequent visitor to the bar, no doubt attracted by the lively mix of clientele. Many of his works depict life in the seedier areas of cities. Burra visited America several times and this picture is believed to have been painted on his second visit in 1955. The vibrant scene contains a number of strange characters, such as the disquieting blank-eyed sailor who faces the viewer. The sailor in the foreground on the left-hand side is a self-portrait of the artist. The work is painted in watercolour, Burra's favourite medium.
Glossary [2] Open
Medium/ media
The material from which an artwork is made, e.g. oil paint, bronze, paper. 'Medium' is also used for the liquid element of paint in which a colouring agent is carried. 'Mixed media' is used when an artist combines several different materials in an artwork.
Watercolour
A paint with colouring and binding agents diluted with water. It has a transparent quality and is usually applied to paper.
- Accession no. GMA 2147
- Medium Watercolour and pencil on paper
- Size 73.60 x 104.50 cm
- Credit Purchased 1980
Edward John Burra (English, 1905 - 1976)
English artist Edward Burra lived all his life in the Sussex seaside town of Rye, but travelled extensively. He studied at Chelsea Polytechnic and at the Royal College of Art, London. Burra's preferred medium was watercolour, although he did make some collages and occasional designs for the theatre. He liked to live life on the margins of society, revolting against his middle-class background. He is particularly well known for a series of Harlem street scenes produced from 1933 to 1934. Burra's imagery became increasingly fantastical towards the mid-1930s, and he exhibited with the English Surrealists.
Glossary [3] Open
Collage
An image constructed from found materials, such as photographs, paper or fabric, glued to a surface, sometimes with additional painted or drawn elements. It is an art form particularly associated with Dada and Surrealism.
Surrealism
A literary and artistic movement founded by the poet André Breton in 1924. Many of the associated artists, such as Max Ernst and Jean Arp, had previously been involved with Dadaism. The movement sought to challenge conventions through the exploration of the subconscious mind, invoking the power of dreams and elements of chance. Cultural hierarchies were challenged by the combination of diverse elements in collages and sculptural assemblages. The movement is also notable for the collaborations between artists and writers evident in the Surrealists' many publications.
Watercolour
A paint with colouring and binding agents diluted with water. It has a transparent quality and is usually applied to paper.