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Please note the house will be temporarily closed for 4 weeks from 14 March 2024

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Open: Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm

We are closed on Bank Holiday Mondays

Please note the house will be temporarily closed for 4 weeks from 14 March 2024

Photo: © Kettle's Yard

Drawing

Sketch of 'Bird Swallowing a Fish', 1914 (circa)

Henri Gaudier-Brzeska
Pen and Indian ink on paper
305 x 370 mm
[HGB 108]
On display

About the artist

Born 1891 – Died 1915

Henri Gaudier was born in St. Jean de Braye, near Orleans, in France. He first came to Britain in 1908.

Read the full biography

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The two drawings of Bird Swallowing a Fish in the Kettle’s Yard collection appear to fulfil different functions. The pencil drawing belongs to a group of preparatory studies which capture the rapidity and desperation of the struggle and attempt to resolve the hectic motion into dynamic lines in preparation for the translation into sculptural forms. The ink study was probably completed after the sculpture. Jeremy Lewison suggested this ‘in view of the detailed observation and highly intricate hatching. Gaudier rarely made such detailed sketches prior to making sculpture. Further, the sculpture is seen sitting on a base which does not appear in any preliminary studies.’

RELATED ARTWORKS

Sculpture

Bird Swallowing a Fish, 1914

Henri Gaudier-Brzeska

Bird Swallowing a Fish Find out more

Drawing

Sketch for 'Bird Swallowing a Fish', c. 1914

Henri Gaudier-Brzeska

Sketch for 'Bird Swallowing a Fish' Find out more