Kenneth Rowntree

Often exhibited but seldom written about, Kenneth Rowntree (1915-97) is a significant figure in the history of British art and design. Of a generation now increasingly recognized and reappraised, Rowntree's contribution is celebrated in a book devoted to his work. Rowntree's art was closely bound to the events of his time. World War II linked the artist to government policy, demanding a genre that celebrated a British life-style then at risk and also a public art of communal experience and shared values. His ability to express humanity, wit and specific qualities of time, place and local style made his work immediate, intelligible and enjoyable in difficult times. The post-war vision in art, architecture and education provided settings for Rowntree's experimental constructions and an adjustment towards design. John Milner's text establishes Rowntree in a historical context and probes issues such as war art, the interaction of art and design and the relation of figuration to abstraction in British post-war art. He also investigates Rowntree's involvement with Richard Hamilton, Victor Pasmore, Quentin Bell and the Newcastle movement.