Gwen John

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Study of 'Little Girl wearing a Straw Hat' by Gwen John.

At Swansea's Glynn Vivian gallery, curator Karen McKinnon shows presenter Kim Howells a typical example of Gwen John's work - a three-quarter portrait, with the title 'Little Girl wearing a Straw Hat'. They refer to the muted colours and limited palette - a style she developed having drawn and painted from an early age. The painting illustrates how John was influenced by Japanese prints with the use of a fine and minimal line. Karen feels that the look on the subject's face reflects Gwen John's interest in a more 'interior life' - she was contemplative and happy to spend time on her own.
From: Framing Wales Episode 1
First Broadcast : 24 February 2011

Teachers' notes

Age Group : 9-11,11-14

Subject : Art & Design

Topic : Art history, Painting and drawing, Portraits

Keywords : Gwen John, Augustus John, Japanese prints, Muted colours, Limited palette

Notes : Class can study the piece 'Little Girl wearing a Straw Hat' and discuss the feelings in the piece - how they think the girl feels, what she may be thinking and how the artist has made the subject of the portrait look thoughtful. Pupils could work in pairs to make brief sketches showing facial emotions or could select one emotion and make a simple painting with a limited palette. Pupils could be taken on a visit to the Glynn Vivian Gallery in Swansea to see at first hand the work of Gwen John and research both her and Augustus John's life. See Gwen John for details on her life.

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