Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Edwin John (1905–1978)

Augustus Edwin John, 1927

Name Class Date
Augustus Edwin John, Edwin John (1905–1978) (1927). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Augustus Edwin John wahooart.com/en/artists/augustus-edwin-john/
Artist’s dates
1878 – 1961
Painted
1927
Original size
98 x 120 cm
Movement
Post-Impressionism Artists who kept the bright colour of Impressionism but pushed shape and feeling further than the eye really sees.

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Augustus Edwin John died in 1961; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2031. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Source: WahooArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

Edwin John (1905–1978) — Augustus Edwin John Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Edwin John (1905–1978) — Augustus Edwin John

How big is it?

The original measures 98 × 120 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1870
  2. 1880
  3. 1890
  4. 1900
  5. 1910
  6. 1920
  7. 1930
  8. 1940
  9. 1950
  10. 1960

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 83 at death.

Painted when the artist was 49. The artist lived to 83. 100 of the 167 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Augustus Edwin John (1878–1961) ▲ this work, 1927 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1912 Main working years: 1912–1933 Late works: from 1933

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: wahooart.com/en/art/similar/augustus-edwin-john-edwin-john-1905-1978-AQRL7U-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Espresso #3e200f

    Catalogued palette

    • #3E200F
    • #744A25
    • #E3B65F
    • #BB8B3F

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Espresso
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Augustus Edwin John over the last twelve months — 6 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 88.6%6,200 visits
    2. 2 United States of America 4.3%300 visits
    3. 3 United Kingdom 2.9%200 visits
    4. 4 Italy 1.4%100 visits
    5. 5 Poland 1.4%100 visits
    6. 6 Singapore 1.4%100 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Augustus Edwin John

    1. 1 Scottish Canadian Soldier, 1940 6.3%500 visits
    2. 2 Lord Conway of Allington, 1930 5.1%400 visits
    3. 3 Sir Edmund Craster (1879–1959), 1944 5.1%400 visits
    4. 4 Portrait of a Young Man, 1929 3.8%300 visits
    5. 5 Nude Woman in a Cave Setting, 1930 3.8%300 visits
    6. 6 Study in Provence, 1926 2.5%200 visits
    7. 7 Dr Louis C. G. Clarke (1881–1960), Fellow (1929–1960), 1922 2.5%200 visits
    8. 8 The Blue Pool, 1910 2.5%200 visits
    9. 9 Olives in Spain, 1922 2.5%200 visits
    10. 10 Edwin John, 1940 2.5%200 visits
    11. 11 May Earp, 1920 2.5%200 visits
    12. 12 Professor John Macdonald Mackay (1856–1931), Rathbone Chair of History, University of Liverpool (1884–1914) 2.5%200 visits
    13. 13 Oliver Elton (1861–1945), 1902 2.5%200 visits
    14. 14 Portrait of a Boatman 2.5%200 visits
    15. 15 Harbour 2.5%200 visits
    16. 16 Sir Archibald Sinclair (1876–1956) 2.5%200 visits
    17. 17 Archibald Henry Macdonald Sinclair (1890–1970), 1st Baronet of Ulbster and 1st Viscount Thurso, Liberal Statesman, Secretary of State for Scotland and Secretary of State for Air, 1924 1.3%100 visits
    18. 18 Dorothy Rose Burns, née Duveen, 1940 1.3%100 visits
    19. 19 Dorothea Head, née Ashley Cooper (1907–1987), 1930 1.3%100 visits
    20. — Edwin John (1905–1978), 1927 this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 55.5% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 220 works by this artist, of which 54 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: WahooArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Edwin John (1905–1978) — Augustus Edwin John Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Augustus Edwin John

    Born in Tenby, United States of America

    A Welsh Bohemian: The Life and Art of Augustus Edwin John

    Augustus Edwin John emerged as a pivotal figure in early 20th-century British art, a painter whose life was as vibrant and unconventional as the canvases he produced. Born in Tenby, Wales, on January 4, 1878, his artistic journey began under the nurturing influence of his mother, who instilled in him a love for drawing from a young age. This early encouragement led him to the Tenby School of Art at seventeen, where his natural aptitude quickly became apparent. However, it was his subsequent enrollment at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London (1894-1898), that truly ignited his artistic development. There, under the tutelage of Henry Tonks, he honed his draughtsmanship to an exceptional degree, earning accolades and establishing himself as a prodigious talent even before graduation. A dramatic turning point arrived in 1897 with a head injury sustained during a diving accident in Tenby. This incident profoundly altered his personality, unleashing a newfound spontaneity and boldness that would characterize both his life and art.

    Influences and the Shaping of a Style

    John’s artistic sensibilities were deeply rooted in the Old Masters, particularly Peter Paul Rubens, whose dynamic compositions and rich color palettes resonated with him. Simultaneously, he absorbed the innovations of French contemporaries like Matisse and Gauguin, embracing their expressive use of color and rejection of traditional academic constraints. The subtle tonal harmonies of Puvis de Chavannes also left an indelible mark on his aesthetic vision. These diverse influences coalesced into a distinctive style characterized by vibrant hues, fluid brushwork, and a compelling focus on capturing the essence of his subjects. He wasn’t merely interested in likeness; he sought to reveal the inner life, the fleeting emotions that defined each individual. This pursuit led him to excel in portraiture, where he possessed an uncanny ability to seize what he called an “instantaneous attitude” – a momentary glimpse into the soul of his sitter.

    Portraits and Gypsy Lore: A Life Lived Fully

    Augustus Edwin John is perhaps best remembered for his striking portraits of prominent figures from the aristocratic and literary worlds. His canvases brought to life personalities such as David Lloyd George, James Joyce, and George Bernard Shaw, each rendered with a psychological depth that transcended mere representation. Notable works like Caspar (1909), a poignant depiction of youthful innocence, and portraits of Archibald Henry Macdonald Sinclair (1924) and Francis Henry Crittall (1919) exemplify his mastery of the genre. However, John’s artistic interests extended beyond the confines of conventional portraiture. A profound fascination with Romani culture led him to embrace a nomadic lifestyle, traveling in a caravan with his family for an extended period. This immersive experience profoundly influenced his art, infusing it with themes of freedom, wanderlust, and the beauty of the natural world. His deep connection to this community culminated in his presidency of the Gypsy Lore Society, solidifying his commitment to understanding and celebrating their unique way of life. Air Mechanic Shaw (1935), a portrait of T.E. Lawrence, stands as another testament to his ability to capture complex characters with remarkable sensitivity.

    A Complex Legacy: Recognition and Reassessment

    Throughout his career, John experienced both widespread acclaim and periods of critical fluctuation. Initially celebrated for his innovative oil sketching techniques and figure drawings, some critics later found his work to be overly flamboyant or lacking in painterly finesse. His service as a war artist during World War I, attached to the Canadian forces, yielded memorable portraits of soldiers, but an unfortunate incident led to his recall to England. Despite these challenges, Augustus Edwin John remained a significant force in British art history. He was one of the few artists of his time to achieve widespread public recognition and played a crucial role in popularizing Post-Impressionism within the United Kingdom. Awarded the Order of Merit in 1942, he also documented his life and artistic philosophy in two volumes of autobiography: Chiaroscuro (1952) and Finishing Touches (published posthumously in 1964). While his reputation waned somewhat after World War II, there has been a renewed appreciation for his work in recent years, particularly for the vibrancy and originality of his early pieces. His legacy is further enriched by the artistic achievements of his sister, Gwen John, whose own unique vision contributed significantly to the modernist movement.

    Born: January 4, 1878, Tenby, Wales

    Died: October 31, 1961, Fordingbridge, England

    Augustus Edwin John’s art continues to captivate and inspire, reminding us of the power of individual expression and the enduring allure of a life lived with passion and artistic integrity.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Edwin John (1905–1978)

    wahooart.com/en/art/download/augustus-edwin-john-edwin-john-1905-1978-AQRL7U-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    John, Augustus Edwin. Edwin John (1905–1978). 1927, https://wahooart.com/en/art/augustus-edwin-john-edwin-john-1905-1978-AQRL7U-en/
    APA
    John, Augustus Edwin (1927). Edwin John (1905–1978) [Painting]. https://wahooart.com/en/art/augustus-edwin-john-edwin-john-1905-1978-AQRL7U-en/
    Chicago
    Augustus Edwin John. Edwin John (1905–1978). 1927. https://wahooart.com/en/art/augustus-edwin-john-edwin-john-1905-1978-AQRL7U-en/
    Harvard
    John, Augustus Edwin (1927) Edwin John (1905–1978). Available at: https://wahooart.com/en/art/augustus-edwin-john-edwin-john-1905-1978-AQRL7U-en/

    Source: WahooArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Edwin John (1905–1978) — Augustus Edwin John Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Edwin John (1905–1978) — Augustus Edwin John

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: portrait, young man, victorian art. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at Study in Provence (1926), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: WahooArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Edwin John (1905–1978) — Augustus Edwin John Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    How do I discover artworks close to "Edwin John (1905–1978)" by Augustus Edwin John?

    The Similars page of "Edwin John (1905–1978)" by Augustus Edwin John presents related artworks.

    What stage of Augustus Edwin John's career does "Edwin John (1905–1978)" (1927) belong to?

    Given its 1927 date, "Edwin John (1905–1978)" falls in Augustus Edwin John's Mature Period.

    What does "Edwin John (1905–1978)" by Augustus Edwin John depict?

    "Edwin John (1905–1978)" by Augustus Edwin John depicts: portrait, young man, victorian art, realistic painting, warm colors, contemplative, british art, formal portrait.