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COMRADES IN ART

by the Artists International Association, which formed in London in 1933 and took as its mission the “Unity of Artists against Fascism and War and the Suppression of Culture.” Its founders included several artists who had been to the Soviet Union and returned to England inspired by the mutual support among artists in that country. Fearful of the growing threat of fascism throughout Europe, they proclaimed that “now was the time for their generation of artists to organize” in order “to serve shared political goals through their art” and support progressive causes. Focusing on the activities of the AIA from 1933 to 1943, Friend investigates similar organizations outside of England: the International Bureau of Revolutionary Artists in Moscow, for example, and in the U.S., the John Reed Clubs, the Unemployed Artists Group, the Public Works of Art Project, and the American Artists’ Congress. The AIA forged connections with these groups as it grew to become an increasingly visible force in British culture, producing publications and mounting exhibitions, many to raise funds for combatants in Spain and Russia. In its first year, membership tripled\u003B the roster included Julian and Quentin Bell, Augustus John, Henry Moore, and art critics Herbert Read and Kenneth Clark, along with scores of other painters, sculptors, writers, and illustrators whose work appears in the book’s more than 200 illustrations. Many contributors to the AIA’s efforts were 20th\u002Dcentury stars, such as Picasso, who sent his Guernica to be exhibited in London\u003B muralist Diego Rivera\u003B surrealists Joan Miró and Paul Klee\u003B Ben Shahn\u003B and Virginia and Leonard Woolf, who supported the organization. A biographical appendix identifies less familiar participants."

Book Details

Publisher:London in
Published:1933-01-01
Pages:96
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9780500027

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This compelling history of the Artists International Association delivers a powerful exploration of art as activism during the turbulent 1930s, when creative professionals united against the rising t...

Our Review

This compelling history of the Artists International Association delivers a powerful exploration of art as activism during the turbulent 1930s, when creative professionals united against the rising tide of fascism across Europe. Through vivid storytelling and carefully researched accounts, the book reveals how painters, sculptors, and printmakers transformed their work into political statements and organized collective action. Young readers will discover how artistic expression became a form of resistance, with creators using their talents to challenge authoritarian regimes and support democratic values. The narrative brings to life this crucial period when visual arts became weapons in the fight for social justice.

What makes this account particularly engaging for teen readers is its focus on collective action and the real-world impact of artistic collaboration. The book demonstrates how artists overcame individual differences to form a united front, organizing exhibitions, creating protest posters, and using their platforms to amplify anti-fascist messages. Students interested in art history, social movements, or political activism will find inspiring examples of how creative communities can drive meaningful change. This timely exploration of artists standing together against oppression offers both historical insight and contemporary relevance for today's socially conscious youth.

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