Artwork
The Ford, Braughing
The Ford, Braughing is a watercolor work on paper by the Regionalist artist Irene Hawkins. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Ford, Braughing is a 1940 watercolour by Irene Hawkins, depicting a serene rural scene in Hertfordshire, England.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a tranquil ford in the village of Braughing, with old houses, leafless trees, and a wooden fence, conveying a sense of traditional English village life on the cusp of change.
Technique & Style
Hawkins employed soft, muted colours to evoke an early spring atmosphere, characterized by bare branches, emerging green grass, and gentle light, imbuing the scene with calmness.
History & Provenance
Created for the Recording Britain project, a wartime initiative (funded by the Pilgrim Trust and led by Sir Kenneth Clark) to document endangered British landscapes and ways of life, this work is now part of a broader archival effort.
Context
Part of a national project responding to the threats of wartime destruction and modernization, The Ford, Braughing reflects the initiative’s focus on preserving images of quintessential English villages and market towns.
Artist & collection
Artist
Irene Hawkins painted quiet English scenes around Braughing in watercolor during the 1930s and 40s.
