Art in Britain 1918-1945 – the Interwar years and WWII
Time: 15:00 - 17:00
Location: Online
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
- Course Code: VB539
- Dates: 10/03/25 - 14/04/25
- Time: 15:00 - 17:00
- Taught: Mon, Daytime
- Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
- Location: Online
- Tutor: Julia Musgrave
Course Code: VB539
Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
We will study the development of modern art in England from the interwar years to the aftermath of WWII. We will consider the impact of WWI and the economic crisis which followed it on art in Britain, We will be looking at key works from the period 1918–1950 by and consider how they were influenced by avant garde theories from France, Germany, Italy and Russia. Were the key British artists of this period following a tradition of ‘British’ art, taking on a much-needed dose of fresh ideas from the continent, or developing something completely new?
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone can be used if you don't have a computer but please note the experience may be less optimal.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
• The impact of the First World War on art in Britain
• Freud, Psychiatry and Surrealism
• Constructivism and Abstract Art
• The power of landscape in the interwar years
• The immediate impact of the Second World War on art in Britain.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Give examples of works of art created in Britain 1918–1950 and how they relate to the period
• Discuss the influence of the continental ‘avant garde’ on British painting in the interwar period
• Be able to discuss artworks with more confidence.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You should be comfortable with basic elements of Zoom including microphone, camera and chat.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught by lecture with slide images and you will be invited to participate in group discussion. There will be handouts provided by your tutor. However, they will also be available digitally via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course; these handouts will be available online/digitally for download, not printed out for you.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You might also be interested in:
- Art in Britain 1890-1918 - New English Art Club to WWI
- Art in Britain 1950-2000 - 'This is Tomorrow'.
Julia Musgrave got her first degree in Chemical Engineering and went on become a Chartered Information Systems Engineer and IT project manager. In 2008 she decided that life was too short for just one career and decided to become an art historian. She has a Graduate Diploma in the History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art and an MLitt in ‘Art, Style and Design: Renaissance to Modernism, c.1450 – c.1930’ from the University of Glasgow. She gained her Ph.D. at the University of York for her research into the involvement of Roger Fry and the Bloomsbury Group and the social networks of the British art world in the development of the Contemporary Art Society from 1910 to 1939. She is Co-Director of the London Art Salon and an accredited Arts Society lecturer.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.