'New York Impressions'

1 portrait matching these criteria:

- set matching 'Cecil Beaton sketchbooks and drawings'

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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'New York Impressions'

by Cecil Beaton
pen and ink and wash with collage, published 1937
20 1/8 in. x 15 1/2 in. (510 mm x 395 mm)
Accepted in lieu of tax by H.M. Government and allocated to the Gallery, 1991
Reference Collection
NPG D3624

Artistback to top

  • Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer. Artist or producer associated with 1114 portraits, Sitter associated with 360 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Beaton loved New York where he was accepted into the artistic avant-garde and was much in demand as a photographer. This drawing illustrated Cecil Beaton's Scrapbook (1937), a collection of essays, photographs and drawings recording recent travels, people and experiences. The following year he recorded further impressions in Cecil Beaton's New York.

Placesback to top

Events of 1937back to top

Current affairs

George VI becomes king. The younger brother of Edward VIII was crowned on the 12th May and the coronation was broadcast to Britain and the Empire on the radio. Edward becomes the Duke of Windsor, although the rank of 'Royal Highness' is not extended to Wallis Simpson.
Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister following Baldwin's retirement.

Art and science

Roland Penrose organises a tour of Picasso's painting Guernica to the UK. The painting, which shows the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, went on display at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in East London

International

Commercial airship travel is brought to an end with the 'Hindenberg Disaster'. The German airship exploded while landing in New Jersey. The radio broadcaster Herbert Morrison's reaction has become legendary: 'Oh, the humanity!'
Japan invades China, killing about 25,000. Japanese Troops committed numerous atrocities against soldiers and civilians in what became known as the 'Rape of Nanking'.

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