This course looks at the key artistic developments in twentieth-century Britain, from 1945 to 1970, providing an overview of general trends and also an in-depth assessment of certain artists who impacted the artistic culture of Post-War Britain and beyond.

We follow the timeline of Post-War Britain, from angst and austerity to affluence and consumerism, examining how British art developed a wide range of subjects, narratives and styles. We will investigate and reflect on the ideas, narratives and histories from the viewpoint of many different painters. From a fishing village in Cornwall to the capital city, artists created new interpretations of the romantic landscape tradition and redefined portraiture and the depiction of the human figure. Changes in social politics and education gave rise to a new Realism that evolved from the working-class culture of the industrial Northern heartlands culminating, in the following decade, in a complex Pop sensibility. Students will journey through the period of reflection, rebirth and celebration to provide an analysis of how Britain developed its own unique style of Modernism.

Related study trip

A study trip to London takes us to two of the UK’s leading museums of modern and contemporary art, usually the Tate Britain and Tate Modern.

ASE reserves the right to change the content of course-specific study trips where necessary.