Clare Leighton
Contemporary Surrealism Wood engravingPrintmakingIllustrationStained glass
About
Clare Leighton (1898-1989) was an English-American artist, writer, and illustrator renowned for her wood engravings depicting rural life and working people. Born in London to writer parents, she received early encouragement from her father and uncle Jack Leighton, an artist. She studied at Brighton College of Art (1915), Slade School of Fine Art (1921-1923), and Central School of Arts and Crafts under Noel Rooke, where she developed her passion for wood engraving. A pacifist influenced by World War I losses, including her brother Roland, her work offered tranquil visions of agrarian labor amid industrialization and war.
Realistic depictions of rural workers and pastoral life
Selected Exhibitions
- Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Boston Public Library retrospective (1977)
Awards
- Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Logan First Prize (Art Institute of Chicago, 1930)