Woman Reading

Woman Reading, about 1910 ink on paper by Harold Gilman (1876-1919).

Half-length study of a young woman, seated at a table, reading. She rests her left arm upon the table and leans her cheek against her right hand. The wall behind her is decorated with striped wallpaper and a chiffonier stands to far right. Form and tone are suggested by a pattern of short lines and dots.

Gilman’s work is closely associated with that of his friend Charles Ginner. His work usually features scenes of ordinary urban life which often give a sense of privacy. Gilman knew Walter Richard Sickert and became a founder member of the Camden Town Group in 1911.

The Camden Town Group took its name from the seedy district of north London where Sickert had lived.  Artists associated with the Group include Lucien Pissarro, Harold Gilman, Charles Ginner, Spencer Gore, Augustus John and Malcolm Drummond. They painted scenes of everyday urban life and landscapes in a range of Post-Impressionist styles.