Who painted Looking towards The Boar Inn, near Modishall?

Looking towards The Boar Inn, near Modishall was painted by Puller.

Where can I see Looking towards The Boar Inn, near Modishall?

Looking towards The Boar Inn, near Modishall is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Looking towards The Boar Inn, near Modishall?

Looking towards The Boar Inn, near Modishall is associated with Regionalism.

Can I buy a print of Looking towards The Boar Inn, near Modishall?

Museum-quality prints of Looking towards The Boar Inn, near Modishall are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Looking towards The Boar Inn, near Modishall

Puller

Looking towards The Boar Inn, near Modishall is a watercolor work on paper by the Regionalist artist Puller. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This 1943 watercolour by artist John Puller portrays a tranquil rural landscape centred on an inn that overlooks a lake, with gentle hills receding in the distance. The composition is rendered in muted, earthy hues and conveys a quiet, late‑autumn atmosphere through leafless trees, dry grass and grazing sheep.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures a modest inn and its surrounding countryside, emphasizing the everyday built environment and agricultural life of wartime Britain. By focusing on ordinary structures and the natural setting, the work reflects a concern for preserving the character of the national landscape amid the upheavals of the era.

Technique & Style

Puller employs loose, sketch‑like brushwork to suggest light and shadow, allowing forms to emerge with a sense of immediacy. The palette is restrained, dominated by browns, greys and soft sky tones, reinforcing the subdued mood and highlighting the texture of foliage, stone and water.

History & Provenance

The painting was created as part of the Recording Britain project, a wartime programme launched in 1940 by the Committee for the Employment of Artists in Wartime. Funded by the Pilgrim Trust and overseen by Sir Kenneth Clark, the initiative commissioned artists to document England’s buildings and landscapes, aiming to safeguard a visual record of a country facing wartime threats and post‑war change.

Context

Recording Britain sought to capture the nation’s visual heritage at a time when aerial bombing, urban development and agricultural transformation threatened traditional scenery. The series excluded Northern Ireland and only partially covered Wales and Scotland, concentrating on England’s diverse rural and historic sites.