Eileen Agar

Sitterback to top

• Eileen Agar (1899-1991), Painter. Sitter in 4 portraits, Artist of 2 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Eileen Agar (1899-1991), Painter. Artist of 2 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Born in Buenos Aires, Eileen Agar came to Britain as a child. She studied in London and Paris, and in 1934 became a member of the London Group. Her work, which consists of oils, collages, found objects and experimentation with automatic techniques, was selected by Roland Penrose and Herbert Read for inclusion in the International Surrealist exhibition in 1936 and she later exhibited with the Surrealists in New York, Tokyo, Paris and Amsterdam. Painted onto coarse canvas, this self-portrait bears the confidence of youth. Her auburn hair is rendered in impasto and the green of her tunic recurs in the shadows on her face.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 52
• Rideal, Liz, Mirror Mirror: Self-portraits by Women Artists, 2001 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 12 September 2001 to 20 January 2002), p. 63
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 5

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• Mirror Mirror: Self-portraits by women artists (12 September 2001 - 20 January 2002)

Subject/Themeback to top

• Self-portraits