Beschreibung:

Sir William Orpen KBE RA RHA, 
Irish 1878-1931 - 
Walking in the Evening with the Chimpanzee;
ink on paper, titled along bottom edge, 32.5 x 20.5 cm 
Provenance: 
Catherine Townsend; 
Pyms Gallery, London, stock no.L938 and purchased from the above on the 18th January 2018 (label on the reverse) 
Note: 
While Sir William Orpen is best known for his poignant depictions of war, this work exemplifies his more playful exploration of what it means to be human. With particular focus on character, the artist emphasises facial expressions and gesture to capture the individuality of his subjects. Another work on a similar subject is in the National Gallery Ireland's archives. 
Irish born Sir William Orpen was one of the most important artists working in early 20th century Britain and his work made while an Official War Artist in WWI are now considered amongst the most powerful paintings depicting war ever made. 
Orpen’s work was synonymous with the endeavours and achievements of Mary and Alan Hobart at Pyms Gallery, as they were instrumental in bringing about a reappraisal of his work in the late 20th century. Due to various feuds with Augustus John and Wyndham Lewis amongst others, Orpen's reputation has been tarnished following his death and was rarely exhibited or written about. From their 1982 ‘The Irish Revival’, the Hobarts exhibited important Irish modern artists at their gallery in London, bringing these figures back to prominence. Orpen’s work was central to their private collection and was featured heavily in the exhibition ‘Championing Irish Art: The Mary and Alan Hobart Collection’ at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in 2023.