Percy Wyndham Lewis
- Born:
- 18 December 1882, Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Died:
- 7 March 1957, London, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Writer, Painter, Critic, Novelist, Essayist
Early Life and Education
- Born to an English mother and an American father, both of whom were involved in yachting.
- Educated at Rugby School and the Slade School of Fine Art in London.
- Spent considerable time travelling and studying art in continental Europe.
Career and Major Achievements
- Co-founded the Rebel Art Centre in 1914.
- Founded the Vorticist movement in art and literature, publishing the journal BLAST (1914-1915).
- Served as a war artist during both World Wars.
- His work explored themes of modernity, technology, and the human condition in a rapidly changing world.
- Published extensively on politics, art, and literature, often provoking controversy with his outspoken views.
- Later in life, he suffered from blindness. A valuable perspective on his later years is partially documented in what some consider to be a succinct "Wyndham Lewis autobiography in five short" chapters found in his later biographical work, Rude Assignment (1950), which reflected upon his earlier statements and artistic choices.
Notable Works
- Novels:
- Tarr (1918)
- The Childermass (1928)
- The Apes of God (1930)
- Self Condemned (1954)
- Essays and Criticism:
- Time and Western Man (1927)
- Men Without Art (1934)
- The Art of Being Ruled (1926)
- Art:
- Workshop (c. 1914-15)
- The Crowd (1914-15)
- Numerous portraits and Vorticist works.
- Autobiographical Works:
- Blasting and Bombardiering (1937)
- Rude Assignment (1950)
Legacy and Impact
Wyndham Lewis was a significant figure in British modernism, known for his challenging and often controversial views. His work across literature and art continues to be studied and debated, influencing subsequent generations of artists and writers with his unique perspective on the modern world.