This reciprocal portrait captures Wolmark's distinctive features in middle age, with his round spectacles and wide brimmed hat, and illustrates the strength of creative relationships in the early years of the twentieth century. Although the current whereabouts of Wolmark’s oil of Borough Johnson is unknown, other reciprocal sitters included Gaudier Brzeska and Horace Brodzky. The two painters were linked beyond this work: both were members of the 'Faculty', an independent organisation which celebrated a cross-section of the arts, encompassing painting, commercial art, photography, architecture, printmaking, sculpture, design, drama, literature, music, crafts and even dancing. Founded in London W1 in 1921, its influential and assorted patrons included Israel Zangwill, Sir Henry Wood and G. K. Chesterton. Borough Johnson studied at the Slade and Herkomer's Art School at Bushey, and subsequently became Professor of Fine Art at Bedford College and Chelsea Polytechnic. He taught at the London School of Art and Byam Shaw School, and wrote on techniques of drawing. Perhaps surprisingly, he was also connected with Ben Uri, lending work from his own collection to its first exhibition of non-collection Jewish artists in 1934.
1915-1920
Watercolour and pencil on paper
55.0 x 33.0cm
Images and text © Ben Uri collection, 2017