Edward Burra

Edward Burra (1905-76) was an English painter who is best known for his paintings of the seedy underworld of urban life. Yet, as this fascinating monograph on his work reveals, his interests were much broader, incorporating landscape and still-life paintings, stage designs and book illustration. Somewhat neglected by histories of Modern art because his singular vision was often at odds with the mainstream art world, his work is now due for a re-appraisal. Published to accompany a major exhibition of Burra's paintings and drawings at Pallant House Gallery, this important book represents the first fullscale monograph on Edward Burra and reproduces 100 key paintings alongside drawings and a range of fascinating contextual material. It positions Burra as a major figure in the history of 20th-century art, placing his work alongside that of the German Expressionists and other important contemporaries and influences, such as Surrealism and the macabre. Long awaited, this book is essential reading for all those with an interest in the art of this fascinating maverick and documenter of modern life.