The Bloomsbury Look

The Bloomsbury Look explores the Bloomsbury Group's distinctive aesthetic through unpublished photographs and archival material, highlighting Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf as curators of the collectives visual narratives. It examines the use of the family album as a vehicle for the Groups self-fashioned aesthetic and charts the evolution of Omega dress.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 23 April 2024
Publisher: Yale University Press

The Bloomsbury Group, a renowned interdisciplinary collective of the twentieth century, is the subject of a groundbreaking study that delves into their distinctive aesthetic. Authored by Wendy Hitchmough, the book offers a captivating and comprehensive exploration of the ways in which the Group enabled its members to express and explore radical ideas and identities both publicly and privately. The Bloomsbury Look, as the study is aptly titled, provides an intimate and novel perspective on the Group's visual narratives, with Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf serving as curators of the collective's visual narratives. Drawing on a wealth of unpublished photographs and archival material, Hitchmough examines the use of the family album as a vehicle for the Group's self-fashioned aesthetic. Additionally, extensive new research charts the evolution of Omega dress and considers Bloomsbury's engagement with exhibitions as artists, models, curators, critics, and collectors to determine its pivotal role within twentieth-century modernism. The Bloomsbury Group, comprising prominent figures such as Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell, and Clive Bell, emerged in the early twentieth century and gained recognition for their innovative approach to art, literature, and social life. Their distinctive aesthetic, characterized by bold colors, geometric patterns, and a rejection of traditional gender roles, became a hallmark of the Group's work. The Bloomsbury Look explores how the Group's members used their art and dress to communicate their beliefs and values, and how they navigated the social and cultural constraints of their time. The book highlights the importance of the family album as a means of self-fashioning and self-expression for the Group's members. These albums served as a platform for them to showcase their artistic talents, document their personal lives, and express their political and social views. Hitchmough's research reveals the significance of the family album in shaping the Group's visual identity and how it contributed to their success as a collective. The Bloomsbury Look also examines the Group's engagement with exhibitions as artists, models, curators, critics, and collectors. The Group's members were active participants in the art world, exhibiting their work in prestigious galleries and museums and contributing to the development of modernism. They also played a crucial role in shaping the public perception of modern art and literature. The book highlights the Group's influence on contemporary art and literature, and how their ideas and aesthetics continue to resonate with audiences today. Overall, The Bloomsbury Look is a fascinating and wide-ranging study that will be enjoyed by both Bloomsbury aficionados and newcomers alike. It offers a fresh perspective on the Group's aesthetic and their role in shaping twentieth-century modernism. The book's extensive research and insightful analysis make it a valuable addition to the literature on the Bloomsbury Group and modernism.

Weight: 812g
Dimension: 218 x 270 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300277913