The Seven and Five Society: A Radical Shift in British Modern Art

The Seven and Five Society was established in 1919 as a group of seven painters and five sculptors in London. They were initially focused on promoting traditional, conservative artistic ideals. The group’s early exhibitions highlighted a desire to slow the rapid pace of modernist experimentation. Their first exhibition catalogue remarked, “[we] feel that there has of late been too much pioneering. It is happening along too many lines.

Ben Nicholson’s arrival in 1924 marked the beginning of this radical transformation. Under his leadership, the group expelled its more traditional members and embraced modernist ideas. By 1935, the society had been renamed the Seven and Five Abstract Group. This was a significant shift, culminating in Britain’s first abstract exhibition at the Zwemmer Gallery on Charing Cross Road, London.

A Defiant Artistic Movement

The society’s exhibitions in the 1930s showcased a defiance of traditional artistic norms. At their eleventh exhibition in 1932, held at the Leicester Galleries, The Daily Telegraph noted the group’s boldness. Artists like Ben Nicholson, in works such as “January 1932,” disregarded established canons and created art on their own terms. Winifred Nicholson’s “Isle of Wight” subtly reflected the influence of Marie Laurencin. It did so in a style that was distinctly her own.

In his piece “Human Being”, David Jones drew connections to Sickert but managed to assert his individual voice. Christopher Wood’s “Marseilles”, vibrant colours and dreamlike quality, captured the youthful experimentation that characterised the society’s approach.

Breaking Away from Realism

The Seven and Five Society’s 1929 exhibition at A. Tooth’s Galleries, as covered by The Observer, marked another bold step. Ben Nicholson’s linocut “Still Life” reduced everyday objects to abstract symbols, challenging the necessity of realism in art. While this approach invited critique, it also solidified the group’s rejection of traditional draughtsmanship in favour of artistic freedom.

Final Thoughts

By the mid-1930s, the Seven and Five Society had become a leading force in British modernism. Ben Nicholson and his peers established themselves as influential figures in abstract art. Their work left an indelible mark on the development of modern British art. It pushed the boundaries of creativity and redefined the possibilities of artistic expression.

Sources

The Observer, 17 March 1929, Page 14. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-observer-the-seven-and-five-society/155770496/: accessed 22 September 2024), clip page for The Seven and Five Society by user simon1judge

The Daily Telegraph. (22 February 1932). The Seven and Five Society: Youth Has its Fling. Newspapers.com. Retrieved 22 September 2024, from https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-the-seven-and-five-s/155770538/