George Bissill
1896-1973
Bissill spent his early years at Langley Mill, Nottingham, where he worked as a miner. During the First World War he served with the Sappers in France. After a short period at Nottingham School of Art 1920-1, he worked as a pavement artist in London from 1922 and in 1925 he worked in Paris where he developed an interest in Cubism. In 1923/4 he was commissioned by the Arts League of Service for a series of drawings of miners and he subsequently exhibited in London galleries, particularly at the Redfern, the RA from 1940 to 1969, at the NEAC, the LG and in Manchester. His work is represented in public collections including the Tate Gallery. His wide-ranging, strongly constructed work included mining scenes which show the influence of Cubism and Vorticism and his distinguished linocuts show an affinity with the Grosvenor School of printmakers. He once declared: 'Character I regard as the most important thing in art. The camera can give an exact rendering, anyone with average ability can become a good draughtsman, but real art is to express what Degas, Lautrec, Forain and Steinlen have expressed.'
Works Available
Half-caste
Harlequin