Edna Mann British, 1926-1985
Standing nude, circa 1955
Oil on canvas laid on board
19 1/8 x 15 1/8 in
48.5 x 38.5 cm
48.5 x 38.5 cm
Born in East London in 1926, Edna Mann was a painter and co-founder of the Borough Group of artists. First educated at Romford County High School for Girls, Mann went...
Born in East London in 1926, Edna Mann was a painter and co-founder of the Borough Group of artists. First educated at Romford County High School for Girls, Mann went on to study art at the South-East Essex Technical College and School of Art. It was here, in 1942, that she met fellow artists David Bomberg – who was teaching there – and Dorothy Mead. Though initially sceptical of his teaching style, Mann and Mead were won over by Bomberg, and attended his classes throughout the duration of their time at the Technical College. Having accepted a scholarship, Mann followed Bomberg to the Royal College of Art in 1945. Her time there was short-lived due to trenchant opposition – from both herself and her tutors – to Bomberg’s influence.
Despite this, her loyalty to and interest in Bomberg remained, and she and Mead enrolled at the City Literary Institute, and later the Borough Polytechnic (now London South Bank University), where he was teaching. Along the way they met Cliff Holden and Miles Richmond. United by their appreciation for Bomberg’s painting, they formed the Borough Group, exhibiting their work – alongside Miles Richmond, Leslie Marr and Lilian Holt – in the late 1940s at the Archer, Arcade and Bookworm galleries, and the Everyman Cinema. With Bomberg involved, progress was not always smooth: in the early 50s, for instance, and after the arrival of Frank Auerbach and Leon Kossoff, there was much tension over direction and leadership. Nonetheless, the Group continued exhibiting, both in England and further afield. Mann was involved until she became pregnant and fell victim to Bomberg’s peculiar misogyny, which theorised that motherhood and the life of a serious artist were mutually exclusive. Thus, she was effectively coerced into resigning and – despite her obvious talent – ostracised by Bomberg.
Although Mann continued to paint throughout her life – and was included in The Harlow Arts Festival in 1965, the same year in which she had a solo show at the Drian Gallery and a play (written with Frank Hitchcock) broadcast by the BBC – she only very occasionally exhibited her work. It is therefore extremely uncommon that one has the opportunity to see her paintings on public display, although she is well-represented in the Borough Road Gallery within the Sarah Rose Collection. Mann, whose work sailed much closer to abstraction than any other follower of Bomberg, is a fascinating artist with a unique vision.
Despite this, her loyalty to and interest in Bomberg remained, and she and Mead enrolled at the City Literary Institute, and later the Borough Polytechnic (now London South Bank University), where he was teaching. Along the way they met Cliff Holden and Miles Richmond. United by their appreciation for Bomberg’s painting, they formed the Borough Group, exhibiting their work – alongside Miles Richmond, Leslie Marr and Lilian Holt – in the late 1940s at the Archer, Arcade and Bookworm galleries, and the Everyman Cinema. With Bomberg involved, progress was not always smooth: in the early 50s, for instance, and after the arrival of Frank Auerbach and Leon Kossoff, there was much tension over direction and leadership. Nonetheless, the Group continued exhibiting, both in England and further afield. Mann was involved until she became pregnant and fell victim to Bomberg’s peculiar misogyny, which theorised that motherhood and the life of a serious artist were mutually exclusive. Thus, she was effectively coerced into resigning and – despite her obvious talent – ostracised by Bomberg.
Although Mann continued to paint throughout her life – and was included in The Harlow Arts Festival in 1965, the same year in which she had a solo show at the Drian Gallery and a play (written with Frank Hitchcock) broadcast by the BBC – she only very occasionally exhibited her work. It is therefore extremely uncommon that one has the opportunity to see her paintings on public display, although she is well-represented in the Borough Road Gallery within the Sarah Rose Collection. Mann, whose work sailed much closer to abstraction than any other follower of Bomberg, is a fascinating artist with a unique vision.
