Characters and Conversations

This display explores the portrayal of the British artist in the early years of the twentieth century. Focusing on the image projected by self-proclaimed 'modern' artists, it includes self portraits, portraits of friends and associates, group portraits and studio interiors produced by artists working in the early part of the twentieth century.

Many of the artists knew each other, and the display looks at various communities of artists, including those associated with the Royal Academy, the Slade School, the Bloomsbury and Vorticist groups. All the works are drawn from the Tate's collections of modern and British art, and include Vanessa Bell, David Bomberg, Jacob Epstein, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Duncan Grant, Gwen John and Walter Sickert.