The largest exhibition of its type will feature a collection of Henry Moore’s coal mining sketches.
Moore is well-known for his abstract and sculpture work. He also drew the drawings for War Artists’ Advisory Commission (WAAC), in 1942.
The artist spent time with miners at Wheldale Colliery, Yorkshire, where his father worked.
Later this year, more than 100 drawings will be displayed in the underground Weston Gallery of St Albans Museum.
Moore spent a week at the mine, drawing from observation. Then, he used his memory to create the remaining drawings. They were all complete within six months.
The exhibition will feature drawings by Moore from four sketchbooks relating to coalmining.
They were loaned by the Henry Moore Foundation, family, the British Museum, and the National Coalmining Museum.
Farhana Begum of St Albans Museums described it as a “fantastic cooperation”.
She said, “Whether you are new to Moore or a long-time fan, or if you have an interest in World War Two and coalmining, this exhibition will offer discovery, excitement, and contemplation.”
Annabel Lucas, University Hertfordshire Arts Programme curator, stated that bringing the sketches to St Albans was a “thrilling” experience and “invites us all to look at Moore as an artist.”
The exhibition is also inspired by a book called “Drawing in the Dark” written by Chris Owen, an art historian. It will also be launched simultaneously.
Former head of Anglia Ruskin University’s Cambridge School of Art, Mr Owen said that “representing miners coming from the dusty dark was a real challenge.”
Moore described the underground conditions as “like hell” and added that it was physically uncomfortable to work 1,400 feet (427m) underground.
“The resulting drawings are powerful and haunting.”
Henry Moore: Drawing in the Dark is a series at St Albans Museum that runs from 16 Dec to 16 April 2023.
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