Alicia Foster Books

NINA HAMNETT (1890–1956) was an artist, illustrator and writer who was associated with the bohemian and avant-garde circles of the London and Parisian art scenes in the first decades of the twentieth century.Hamnett’s career included designs for the Bloomsbury Group’s Omega Workshops; she was also an artist’s model for her friend Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, and published her life-story in two autobiographies. But it was her sensitive and formal still life paintings, her striking, often acerbic drawings, and her perceptive portraits of poets, dancers and friends which defined her achievements as an artist.Alicia Foster brings together works from public and private collections to foreground the accomplishments of a talented and ambitious woman who wasn't afraid to do things differently. In this book, for the first time, Nina Hamnett is celebrated as an artist in her own right.

Gwen John (1867-1939) stands out as one of the most significant British artists of the twentieth century, thriving in the vibrant art scenes of London and Paris. This critical biography dismantles the notion of John as a recluse, presenting her as a brilliant and confident figure within a rich cultural context that included luminaries like James McNeill Whistler, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso. Author Alicia Foster utilizes previously unpublished archival material to delve into John's relationships with notable artists and writers, highlighting her affair with Auguste Rodin and friendships with Jeanne Robert Foster and Véra Oumançoff. The correspondence with poet Rainer Maria Rilke and fellow painter Ursula Tyrwhitt is also explored. Additionally, John's extensive library, featuring works by her friends and philosophical texts, is examined, alongside her role in advancing the visibility of women artists in the early twentieth century. From the Slade School to Paris salons, the narrative captures an artist dedicated to her craft and actively engaged in her era's creative life. With over 120 illustrations, this biography offers a meticulously researched portrait of Gwen John as a vital figure in art history. An exhibition related to this work is currently on display at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, UK.