Artwork
Stonemason's Yard, Bakewell
Stonemason's Yard, Bakewell is a watercolor work on paper by the Social Realist artist Hagedorn. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Stonemason's Yard, Bakewell is a watercolour painting created in 1940 as part of the Recording Britain project.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a stonemason's yard in Bakewell, with stone piles and a wooden shed in the foreground, and the town's churches and buildings visible in the background. The scene reflects the artist's interest in documenting rural industries and the potential impact of wartime destruction.
Technique & Style
The watercolour features loose, sketchy lines, suggesting it was drawn quickly, possibly from life. The artist's use of watercolour captures the quiet atmosphere of the yard, with a large tree leaning over the scene.
History & Provenance
Commissioned by the Committee for the Employment of Artists in Wartime, the painting is one of over 1,500 pieces produced by 97 artists under the Recording Britain initiative, led by Sir Kenneth Clark.
Context
The work was created during the Second World War, a time of concern about the destruction of Britain's landscape and the impact of war on rural life and industries.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karl Hagedorn (11 September 1889 – 1969), who signed himself Hagedorn, was a painter and illustrator. He was born in Berlin in 1889 but settled in Manchester, England, in 1905.
