Eileen Agar
Encyclopedia
Eileen Forrester Agar was a British painter and photographer associated with the Surrealist movement.
(1890–1975). She attended the Slade School of Fine Art in London from 1925 to 1926. She also studied art in Paris from 1928 to 1930.
In 1926, she met the Hungarian writer Joseph Bard
whom she would marry in 1940. In 1928, they lived in Paris where she met the Surrealists André Breton
and Paul Éluard
with whom she had a friendly relationship. She was a member of the London group from 1933. Her work was selected by Roland Penrose
and Herbert Read
for the International Surrealist Exhibition at the New Burlington Galleries, London, in 1936, where she showed three paintings, as "Quadriga" and five objects.
Agar exhibited with the Surrealists in England and abroad. She started to experiment with automatic techniques and new materials, taking photographs and making collages and objects. "The Angel of Anarchy" (fabric over plaster and mixed media) is an example from 1936–40. It now appears at the Tate.
In 1937, Agar spent days-off at Picasso and Dora Maar
's home in Mougins (Alpes-Maritimes), with Paul Éluard
and Nusch, Roland Penrose
and Lee Miller
(who photographed her).
In 1940, she was present in many surrealist exhibitions in Amsterdam, New York, Paris and Tokyo.
After the World War II, she had started a new productive area (almosts 16 solo exhibitions between 1946 to 1985). By the 1960s she was producing Tachist
paintings with Surrealist elements. She died in London. Agar has paintings in the collection of several British institutions including Derby Art Gallery
, Bradford and the UK Government collection.
Biography
Born in Buenos Aires to a Scottish father and American mother, she moved with her family to London in 1911. After attending Heathfield St Mary's School, she studied, beginning in 1919, at the Byam Shaw School of Fine Art. Then, in 1924, she studied under Leon UnderwoodLeon Underwood
Leon Underwood "The precursor of modern sculpture in Britain" was a noted British sculptor, painter, draughtsman and engraver as well as a writer and illustrator, scholar, teacher, philosopher and stained glass and furniture craftsman...
(1890–1975). She attended the Slade School of Fine Art in London from 1925 to 1926. She also studied art in Paris from 1928 to 1930.
In 1926, she met the Hungarian writer Joseph Bard
Joseph Bard
Joseph Bard , also known as Diamant József, was an expatriate Hungarian writer, known for a novel Shipwreck in Europe and short stories written in English, and as a literary editor. He settled in the United Kingdom, where he was later known as Joseph Bard...
whom she would marry in 1940. In 1928, they lived in Paris where she met the Surrealists André Breton
André Breton
André Breton was a French writer and poet. He is known best as the founder of Surrealism. His writings include the first Surrealist Manifesto of 1924, in which he defined surrealism as "pure psychic automatism"....
and Paul Éluard
Paul Éluard
Paul Éluard, born Eugène Émile Paul Grindel , was a French poet who was one of the founders of the surrealist movement.-Biography:...
with whom she had a friendly relationship. She was a member of the London group from 1933. Her work was selected by Roland Penrose
Roland Penrose
Sir Roland Algernon Penrose CBE was an English artist, historian and poet. He was a major promoter and collector of modern art and an associate of the surrealists in the United Kingdom.- Biography :...
and Herbert Read
Herbert Read
Sir Herbert Edward Read, DSO, MC was an English anarchist, poet, and critic of literature and art. He was one of the earliest English writers to take notice of existentialism, and was strongly influenced by proto-existentialist thinker Max Stirner....
for the International Surrealist Exhibition at the New Burlington Galleries, London, in 1936, where she showed three paintings, as "Quadriga" and five objects.
Agar exhibited with the Surrealists in England and abroad. She started to experiment with automatic techniques and new materials, taking photographs and making collages and objects. "The Angel of Anarchy" (fabric over plaster and mixed media) is an example from 1936–40. It now appears at the Tate.
In 1937, Agar spent days-off at Picasso and Dora Maar
Dora Maar
Dora Maar was a French photographer, poet and painter, best known for being a lover and muse of Pablo Picasso.-Life:...
's home in Mougins (Alpes-Maritimes), with Paul Éluard
Paul Éluard
Paul Éluard, born Eugène Émile Paul Grindel , was a French poet who was one of the founders of the surrealist movement.-Biography:...
and Nusch, Roland Penrose
Roland Penrose
Sir Roland Algernon Penrose CBE was an English artist, historian and poet. He was a major promoter and collector of modern art and an associate of the surrealists in the United Kingdom.- Biography :...
and Lee Miller
Lee Miller
Elizabeth 'Lee' Miller, Lady Penrose was an American photographer. Born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1907, she was a successful fashion model in New York City in the 1920s before going to Paris where she became an established fashion and fine art photographer...
(who photographed her).
In 1940, she was present in many surrealist exhibitions in Amsterdam, New York, Paris and Tokyo.
After the World War II, she had started a new productive area (almosts 16 solo exhibitions between 1946 to 1985). By the 1960s she was producing Tachist
Tachisme
Tachisme is a French style of abstract painting popular in the 1940s and 1950s. It is often considered to be the European equivalent to abstract expressionism...
paintings with Surrealist elements. She died in London. Agar has paintings in the collection of several British institutions including Derby Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery was established in 1879, along with Derby Central Library, in a new building designed by Richard Knill Freeman and given to Derby by Michael Thomas Bass. The collection includes a whole gallery displaying the paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby; there is also a large...
, Bradford and the UK Government collection.
Works (sample)
- "Quadriga", painting, 1935
- "The Angel of Anarchy", object, 1940
- "L'horloge d'une femme" painting, 1989