Artwork
Old Customs House, Exeter
Old Customs House, Exeter is a watercolor work on paper by the Regionalist artist Rogers. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Old Customs House, Exeter is a 1940 watercolour by Rogers, depicting a scene along Exeter's Quay. The work is part of the Recording Britain collection, a wartime documentation project.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows the red-brick Custom House and a covered hall, capturing a quiet street scene with pedestrians. The scene conveys a sense of everyday life, with muted colours and soft brushstrokes.
Technique & Style
Rogers employed loose, soft brushstrokes and a muted colour palette, featuring browns, grays, and reds, to create a calm and simple representation of the scene.
History & Provenance
The work was created as part of the Recording Britain initiative, funded by the Pilgrim Trust and overseen by Sir Kenneth Clark, to document Britain's heritage during wartime.
Context
The project aimed to preserve a record of national identity and support artists during a period of economic and social upheaval.
Artist & collection
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