Britain was a country on the brink of ruin. World War II had ravished both the social and physical landscape, raising questions about humanity, religion, and ideology. The shifts observed in major artists’ work became an essential means of making sense of a challenging period. The artworks created during this time are some of the most important pieces of the last century.

Naturally, artists began exhibiting potent works in the context of this rapidly changing Britain. The role of art shifted and became more reflective, whether artists ruminated on past horrors or the promise of a better future. No matter the approach, the art created by the post-war British artists was undeniably ambitious and bold. 

Henry Moore’s fixation on the image of a mother and child frames the mothering figure as a comforting and nurturing authority – an antidote to previous suffering. Victor Pasmore was a conscientious objector, who acted as witness to a changing country. It is interesting therefore to consider the artist’s ambition to inspire harmony within society through the harmony in his abstract compositions. Howard Hodgkin's compositions were similarly considered significant when tracing the trajectory of post-war British abstraction.

Artists practicing in this period were forced, whether intentionally or subconsciously, to address the world around them and re-evaluate a drastically different Britain. The artists not only provided a record of a significant time of change, but they became champions of creativity and expression during a punishing recovery period. Their work became altered, with ideological concerns infiltrating their compositions long after the Post-War period.  

All artworks have been framed by an experienced in-house framing team to conservation standards. Prices are inclusive of framing and domestic shipping within the UK.