Cheerful, kitschy and vulgar, Beryl Cooke’s paintings were loved by the British public but derided by the art world. One hundred years after her birth, a new exhibition argues for a fundamental reappraisal of her work and legacy.
No matter how you look at it, Beryl Cooke’s career trajectory has been impressive. A self-taught artist, she picked up a paintbrush until her late 30s, and had her first solo exhibition at age 49. However, by the time he died in 2008 at the age of 81, Cook had created more than 500 works and became one of Britain’s most popular artists.
Mr. Cooke’s work was not only prolific, but ubiquitous. Anyone who grew up in England over the past 50 years has seen her paintings. Perhaps not in a gallery, but in greeting cards, tea towels, prints, calendars, stamps, drink coasters, etc. her character is BBC Animation, Bosom Pals. Mr. Cook’s characters are instantly recognizable as ordinary working-class people, female and voluptuous. And they always have fun. In pubs, cafes, beaches, karaoke nights and bingo halls.
However, despite her commercial success, Beryl Cooke has been widely ignored by the art world, with her work dismissed as gleeful, kitschy, brash and vulgar. It may be fun, but it’s nothing to take seriously. When critics pay attention to her, their reviews are often scathing. Late art critic Brian Sewell Mr. Cook talked about his work.: “There’s a kind of vulgar atmosphere that has nothing to do with art.”
Source: BBC Culture – www.bbc.com
