The Camden Town Group in Context

This pencil sketch on ruled notebook paper presents a three-quarter back view of a woman in bohemian attire seated on a chair with her arms raised as if playing the piano. It probably depicts the artist’s wife, Zina Drummond, née Ogilvie (1887–1931), who was an accomplished musician and is depicted in the painting At the Piano c.1912 (fig.1).

The sketch is on page 29 of a notebook made by W. Straker Ltd, Printers, Stationers & Bookbinders, London. The majority of the drawings in the notebook feature children and a woman wearing round glasses, who could be Zina. There are also some pages of religious drawings, sums and writing.