Barbara
Hepworth – Art & Life
by Eleanor
Clayton
ISBN 978 0500
0942 59
A book so good, I thought it needed it's own post...
I received
this book for my birthday and waited until the holidays to read it as I knew I
would not want to put it down once started. It really didn’t disappoint! I have
long been a fan of Hepworth and spent many happy visits at the museum (her
garden and studio) at St. Ives whilst I studied at Falmouth College of Arts and
during later visits to Cornwall. I am reminded of her work with every hagstone
that I pick up of the beaches of Dorset and share her attraction to the mystery of holes
in things.
‘So much
depends, in sculpture, on what one wants to see through a hole! Maybe, in a big
work I want to see a sun or moon. In a smaller work I may want to lean into the
hole.’ Barbara Hepworth
I see parallels
between her work and Georgia O’Keeffe’s, whom I also enjoy, for the spaces in between
and weight of their work. I think she is to sculpture what O’Keeffe is to
painting in many ways.
This book
has been a joy to read, Clayton has done a wonderful job her style is at once
warm, accessible and intimately knowledgeable. She is, after all, the curator
of The Hepworth Wakefield which I hope to visit in the not too distant future.
(For now I am satisfying my interest looking through the gallery via google arts and culture here.) Clayton has also curated Hepworth’s work at the Tate Liverpool and co-founded
The Hepworth Research Network, so who really would be better placed to write
such a book?
Throughout there
are illustrations of her work, both the sculptures and also the two-dimensional
pieces explored further when materials and money were in shorter supply. The
drawings are a large body of work in their own right but they are also presented
here in relation to the sculptures they inform. Most books I have read previously have shown
them more in isolation. Also worth noting is that whilst, of course, Hepworth’s
husbands are mentioned within the context of her life they don’t get to take
over as ‘famous husbands’ can be wont to do in other books and are shown as being equally
influential to her work as other friends, acquaintances and contemporaries in different
fields.
There was so
much within the book, reading excerpts from her writing and letters to enjoy
and provide further insight to the art; the integrity, determination and professionalism
about her work, her empathy, her political outlook in some cases. I think what
I enjoyed most was how Clayton’s writing shows the human and likeable qualities
of, in my opinion, a truly great sculptor and artist. I felt the balance between writing and illustration, 259 of them, was good and was impressed they were in colour for the most part where possible. Whilst not something I would normally mention, the layout with wide
margins toward the spine is most useful for jotting down notes if you are so
inclined. I will be exploring further titles mentioned in the bibliography too.
One thing that
did strike me whilst I read this book was how many parallels I could see
between Hepworth’s life during motherhood and the war years and how life has
been during the pandemic with, ‘…her increasing frustration with juggling the traditionally
feminine domestic labour with her own artistic practise.’
Despite this Hepworth wrote in a letter:
‘I’ve always
felt that if I renounced my responsibilities, I should lose something. I have
always believed in doing everything.’ Hepworth
How many
parents have felt that pressure within the context of everyday life and then
increased tenfold with the added responsibility of home school during lockdowns (In
Hepworth’s case the second world war.)? I think, to her credit she managed this
wonderfully, bringing up four children (she had triplets after her first child),
at times single-handed and furthering her career to international acclaim. The
book shows a formidable character, strong willed and with a marvellous energy
but also the struggle, sacrifice and frustrations that come with a life well lived.
Whether you are already a
fan or are new to Hepworth’s work I would highly recommend this book both for its
insights into her work, the person behind them and also for the social history
context surrounding the making of the work. For me this book is a keeper for my bookshelf and will be returned to in the future, there are many aspects to enjoy and
I would rate it as the best book I read in 2021.
To visit the Hepworth - Wakefield website click here.
To visit the Barbara Hepworth St. Ives Museum and Sculpture Garden website click here.
