Artwork
The lower ford, Hutton-le-Hole
The lower ford, Hutton-le-Hole is a watercolor work on paper by John Cooper. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Lower Ford, Hutton-le-Hole is a 1940 watercolour by John Cooper, capturing a serene village scene centered on a river crossing in Hutton-le-Hole.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on the village's ford, depicting a tranquil river scene with grazing sheep, simple hillside houses, and a soft, hazy atmosphere, evoking a sense of traditional English village life.
Technique & Style
Cooper employed loose brushstrokes and muted colors to convey freshness and life. Quick, wavy lines suggest the river's movement, while blended edges integrate the houses into the landscape.
History & Provenance
Created for the Recording Britain project (1940), led by Sir Kenneth Clark and funded by the Pilgrim Trust, this work aimed to document threatened English landscapes and villages during WWII.
Context
Part of a broader effort to preserve visual records of England's traditional landscapes and villages in the early 1940s, amidst concerns over war damage and urbanization.
Legacy
Now part of a collection reflecting wartime preservation efforts, with similar works accessible at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Cooper specialized in quiet watercolor views of northern England from the 1940s.
