Who painted 39 & 40 Curzon Street, Mayfair?

39 & 40 Curzon Street, Mayfair was painted by Dimond in 1943.

Where can I see 39 & 40 Curzon Street, Mayfair?

39 & 40 Curzon Street, Mayfair is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is 39 & 40 Curzon Street, Mayfair?

39 & 40 Curzon Street, Mayfair is associated with Social Realism.

Artwork

39 & 40 Curzon Street, Mayfair

Dimond , 1943

39 & 40 Curzon Street, Mayfair is a watercolor work on paper by the Social Realist artist Dimond. It dates from 1943 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This 1943 watercolour by Dimond depicts two adjacent terraced houses on Curzon Street in Mayfair, highlighting everyday urban details during wartime Britain.

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows a white building housing a United Dairies outlet with a Half Moon Café sign, and a blue (depicted as darker green in the visual note) neighboring house, capturing mundane aspects of urban life amidst the broader context of wartime preservation efforts.

Technique & Style

Dimond employed a simple yet precise watercolour style, characterized by soft edges and muted colors, focusing on architectural and decorative details like wrought-iron railings and shop signage.

History & Provenance

Created as part of the 'Recording Britain' project, this work was funded by the Pilgrim Trust and directed by Sir Kenneth Clark, aiming to document and preserve Britain’s urban and rural landscapes threatened by war and impending post-war changes.

Context

Part of a wartime initiative, the piece reflects the project’s goal to record potentially endangered sites and traditions, situating it within a broader effort to preserve national heritage during World War II.