Comments on: Henry Silk, Artist

By: Phil Maxwell

Phil Maxwell — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 14:22:52 +0000

The photograph is so evocative of life in the East End at that time and the paintings give us a great insight into the artist as well as the East End. he obviously enjoyed the simple pleasures of life (as well as his pipe).

By: JenniB

JenniB — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:57:24 +0000

I save your daily emails to read with my cup of coffee each day – two treat together – luxury! Thank you for these posts on Artists – they are wonderful.

By: Ruth Richardson

Ruth Richardson — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:12:19 +0000

I love Mr Silk’s work, especially the two here featuring the back yards with clean washing hanging on washing lines. That shed was surely where the ‘copper’ was kept – where the weekly wash was done before the days of launderettes and washing machines – outdoor heavy labour seldom painted except as picturesque garments flapping in the wind. Here Silk can be seen in other images observing people at work, and I feel that he sees & salutes the hidden female labour in the washing issuing from those sheds.
AND How I wish I could nip back & visit that basket shop! What a lovely photograph!

By: John Barrett

John Barrett — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 07:36:52 +0000

Henry’s art was typical for his time sharp, bold, here with no real shadow work. Nerveless he has painted things around him in his world. He smoked a pipe several pics of these show a clay and a briar. They would have been a constant smoking companion for him during his painting sessions. He shows us his trade, basket making, he has got that just right. Sitting on the workshop floor he is forming up a basket using a flagon as a template other flagons are for a range of sizes. Henry has shown us pics of his house domestics, a lighted candle in a ‘ladies’ bedroom. He even shows us his main room which has a gas-light – as most London houses did at that time. I have left to last the WW1 medals the War Medal & Victory Medal they must have been important to him for him to paint. I am sure they were his he was the right age to serve. Friederike/GA, he tells us so much worthy of consideration. Not too long for art lovers around the world to wait for your book. Poet John. PS – I say this, its not enough to just sign one’s art work off the date must be added it can give a touch of added value. It also helps art historians for picture profiling.

By: Valerie-Jael

Valerie-Jael — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 07:20:32 +0000

I love the way he paints the mundane things of every day life and makes them special. Valerie

By: Jim McDermott

Jim McDermott — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 04:44:54 +0000

Another artist who can find a world in simplicity. These posts have been a real treat!