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Christopher Wood
Christopher Wood original drawing, British 20th Century, Arrival of the funfair

$2,692.99
£2,000
€2,358.43
CA$3,730.77
A$4,184.31
CHF 2,191.26
MX$50,843.42
NOK 27,825.29
SEK 26,380.34
DKK 17,604.46

About the Item

Christopher Wood (British, 1901 – 1930) Arrival of the funfair pencil on paper 11.3/4 x 14.1/4 in. (30 x 36.3 cm.) PROVENANCE: Dreweatts, Modern and contemporary art, 11th July 2024, lot 75 Christopher Wood was a pivotal figure in early 20th-century British art, celebrated for his poetic, naïve style and the emotional intensity of his compositions. Born in Liverpool and educated briefly at the Académie Julian in Paris, Wood moved in avant-garde circles and developed friendships with artists such as Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau. Despite his short life, his work bridged the modernist currents of Paris with a distinctly English sensibility rooted in folklore, tradition, and everyday life. Wood’s drawings often display a disarming simplicity and freshness of vision—imbued with a romantic yet grounded appreciation for the rhythms of daily existence. His subjects range from pastoral scenes and fishing ports to travelling fairs, harbour life, and seaside rituals. This pencil drawing of the arrival of a funfair captures a fleeting moment of anticipation and quiet wonder. Rendered with fluid, confident line, the scene reflects Wood’s fascination with ordinary spectacles and his gift for observing them with childlike clarity and expressive restraint. The funfair, a motif rich with nostalgia and movement, speaks to Wood’s enduring interest in community, performance, and transient beauty. Though his career was tragically brief—cut short at the age of 29—Christopher Wood left a lasting mark on British art. He was associated with the Seven and Five Society and exhibited alongside Ben and Winifred Nicholson and the St Ives School. His work is held in major collections including Tate Britain and Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, and he is now recognised as one of the most lyrical and original voices of British modernism.
  • Creator:
    Christopher Wood (1901 - 1930, British)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11.75 in (29.85 cm)Width: 14.25 in (36.2 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Paper only slightly oxidised. In a double mount. The blue outer mount is washlined and inscribed with the artist’s name. Behind glass. In a silver giltwood frame with scratches and abrasions.
  • Gallery Location:
    Petworth, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU540316578782

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