The Red Engine

27th October 1943: “Painted small picture of red engine in a country station for Paul Bielby for Christmas. A great success with Crispin who says it is the best painting I have done. This gives rise to an idea. Throughout the winter it would be a good corrective to paint a number of small paintings for children, and suggest a show at the Redfern Gallery.”

Andrew quotes R.E.'s letter to Schiff on this subject: "I have always wanted to indulge in free fancy and humour occasionally and this seems to be a good way of liberating it, besides giving a freedom and opening up ideas in more serious work... And I know what amazing pleasure it gave me as a small boy when my grandmother gave me a picture, I could hardly believe it was really for me, to hang in my own room. No one else had dreamed of giving me such a thing, and I believe the gift of paintings to children might …

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Andrew quotes R.E.'s letter to Schiff on this subject: "I have always wanted to indulge in free fancy and humour occasionally and this seems to be a good way of liberating it, besides giving a freedom and opening up ideas in more serious work... And I know what amazing pleasure it gave me as a small boy when my grandmother gave me a picture, I could hardly believe it was really for me, to hang in my own room. No one else had dreamed of giving me such a thing, and I believe the gift of paintings to children might have a lifelong effect for good."