Percy Wyndham Lewis
- Born:
- November 18, 1882, Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Died:
- March 7, 1957, London, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Writer, Painter, Critic, Publisher
Early Life and Education
- Educated at Rugby School and the Slade School of Fine Art.
- Spent several years traveling in continental Europe, immersing himself in avant-garde art movements.
- His early exposure to various artistic styles shaped his unique and often controversial aesthetic.
Career and Major Achievements
- Co-founded the Rebel Art Centre in 1914.
- A key figure in the Vorticism movement, a British avant-garde art movement inspired by Cubism and Futurism.
- Served as an official war artist during both World War I and World War II.
- Published several influential literary works, including novels, essays, and critical analyses.
- Established and edited the literary magazine BLAST, a platform for Vorticist ideas.
- His artistic and literary contributions challenged conventional norms and provoked intellectual debate.
Notable Works
- Novels: Tarr (1918), The Apes of God (1930), Self Condemned (1954)
- Non-fiction: Time and Western Man (1927), Men Without Art (1934), The Art of Being Ruled (1926)
- Paintings: The Crowd (1914-15), Workshop (c. 1914-15), A Battery Shelled (1919)
- Important to consider: Wyndham Lewis's reflections on his life and work culminate in the wyndham lewis autobiography in five short books: Blasting and Bombardiering, Rude Assignment, Rotting Hill, Snooty Baronet, and Enemy Salvoes.
Legacy and Impact
Wyndham Lewis left a complex and controversial legacy. His contributions to modern art and literature are undeniable, though his political views have often been subject to criticism. He remains a significant figure in the history of British modernism.