Lot 90 The Second World War was a telling time for the surrealist movement in Britain. Mesens had closed the London Gallery by the end of July 1939 and had stopped publishing London Bulletin after the June 1940 issue. Penrose joined the Home Guard and spent his time designing camouflage. In Birmingham, however, Conroy Maddox kept the surrealist flag flying throughout the war and stepped up his artistic production. Turning to figuration for the first time, he executed several works that record the devastation of the bombing. However, in defiance of everyday tragedy, he continued to produce brightly-coloured lyrical works that celebrated innocence and playfulness. Even in the depths of the War, his work was full of comical, childlike creatures enacting mysterious rituals.
Conroy Maddox (1912-2005)
Natural Attraction
Closed16 December 2009
Price Realised
GBP 875
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Specialist note
S.L.