Christopher Wood

This is a high quality book with copious colour illustrations, quality glazed paper and an intelligent text, which is not always the norm for art books. This book was published by Lund Humphries to accompany an exhibition of the work of Christopher Wood at the Pallant House Gallery from the 2nd July to 2nd October 2016.Christopher Wood had a short painting career, spanning just ten years before his untimely death (the same as van Gogh). Wood was introduced to the Parisian art scene at the age of just 20 and immediately occupied a studio in Montmartre. He travelled extensively in Europe and North Africa with a close friend Antonio de Gandarillas, a diplomat at the Chilean embassy. Wood studied in Paris and was subject to a number of influences including the Ballets Russe and a number of personalities including Picasso and Cocteau. Wood joined the Parisian social whirl of the 1920s and met many notable socialites and unfortunately developed an opium addiction.Later Wood yearned for the ‘simpler’ life as exemplified by Ben and Winifred Nicholson in Cumbria and Cornwall although he frequently returned to the Paris milieu. During his short career Wood developed a number of artistic styles but in the years just prior to his death had developed a faux naïve style although there is evidence that he may well have moved on to other passions had he lived.The quality of Wood’s copious output varies enormously, some exhibiting obvious talent and accomplishment, others being failures despite the naïve composition. A painter of the second rank, which he had perhaps realised, with tortured sexual and artistic temperaments, further damaged by the addiction to opium.A very nicely presented book and good text which does justice to this interesting painter. A very useful chronology is included together with the usual guide to exhibitions and galleries exhibiting the artist’s work.

Nicely presented book.