Edward Burra 1905-1976
Striptease, Harlem, c1934
watercolour and gouache on paper
30¼ by 19¾ inches


Provenance
Alex, Reid and Lefevre, London
Private Collection, USA
Private Collection, UK

Exhibited
British Council, touring exhibition, British Painting , cat no.5, details untraced

Cardiff, National Museum of Wales, British Art and the Modern Movement, 1930-40 , 13 October - 25 November 1962

Liverpool,Walker Art Gallery, Body and Soul , 23 October 1975 - January 1976, cat no.69

London, Lefevre Gallery, A Memorial Exhibition of Works by Edward Burra 1905-1976 , 19 May - 2 July 1977, cat no.5, illus colour

London, Royal Academy, Cityscape 1910-39: Urban Themes in American, German and British Art , 19 January - 19 March 1978, cat no.31, illus b/w

London, Hayward Gallery, Thirties: British Art and Design Before the War , Arts Council, 25 October 1979 - 13 January 1980, cat no.6.33, illus colour p44

London, Hayward Gallery, Edward Burra , 1 August - 29 September 1985, cat no.70, illus b/w p110

Literature
Andrew Causey, Edward Burra:The Complete Catalogue , Phaidon, Oxford, 1985, cat no.112, illus colour plate 7



Edward Burra travelled to America in October 1933, lodging for two months with friends in Harlem. Drawn to the city’s bawdy dance halls, bars and theatres, here Burra depicts a lively cast of characters perhaps taken from several different nights on the town. A close observer of clothing, hairstyles and mannerisms, the artist used these details to pick out individuals within the crowd. By adopting the viewpoint of an audience member he draws us into the scene, his careful arrangement of glances drawing our eye around the composition in which the audience are as fascinating as the stage.