Who painted Houses on the Green, Kew?

Houses on the Green, Kew was painted by Frost in 1940.

Where can I see Houses on the Green, Kew?

Houses on the Green, Kew is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Houses on the Green, Kew?

Houses on the Green, Kew is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Houses on the Green, Kew

Frost , 1940

Houses on the Green, Kew is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Frost. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1940, *Houses on the Green, Kew* is a watercolour by G. L. Frost that records a modest streetscape in the London suburb of Kew. The composition presents four terraced dwellings of differing heights, rendered with a light, sketch‑like touch that emphasizes atmosphere over detail.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures a quiet residential lane where ivy climbs the brick façades and a small shop—marked by a sign reading “The Dewdrop”—occupies the ground floor of the central house. Large windows with flower boxes suggest domestic comfort, while the varied proportions of the houses hint at incremental development typical of suburban growth.

Technique & Style

Frost employs a loose wash of soft hues and rapid brushstrokes, allowing the watercolour to remain translucent and airy. The handling of light and shadow is suggestive rather than precise, giving the work a sketch‑like immediacy that conveys both the physical form of the buildings and the fleeting quality of the moment.

History & Provenance

The painting belongs to the Recording Britain project, a wartime initiative organized by the Committee for the Employment of Artists in Wartime and funded by the Pilgrim Trust. Under Sir Kenneth Clark’s direction, the scheme commissioned artists to document landscapes and built environments at risk from war damage or urban change; Frost’s contribution was one of roughly 1,500 works produced by 97 artists.

Context

Recorded during the Second World War, the work reflects a broader effort to preserve Britain’s visual heritage amid the threat of bombings and post‑war redevelopment. By focusing on an ordinary suburban street, the piece underscores the value placed on everyday architecture as part of the nation’s cultural identity.