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The Sketch, 1914 - 1915

172, Strand, London, W.C.


The Sketch did not cover what was happening at the Western Front, but the magazine was much more sombre during the Great War, if only by printing most drawings in monochrome even if they had been painted by the artist in colours. The market for Blampied's type of drawing, of pretty young women, also shrank considerably as many titles were devoted to the war and published artist's drawings of what they imagined was happening at the Western front. Photographers and artists were not allowed to visit the front, so the warfare they depicted was unrealistic, especially as it was in monochrome. But The Sketch continued to buy Blampied's drawings, and he was able to illustrate stories for Pearson's Magazine and other monthly story magazines, so his living was quite good.

Edmund Blampied married Marianne van Abbé, the sister of an artist with whom he had studied at Bolt Court, on 6th August 1914 at Islington Registry Office, two days after the start of the First World War. Marianne had been working as an agent for Edmund, her brothers Saloman and Joseph, and other artists. Her husband always said that she was much more business-like than him: he was happy to give his work away if someone liked it. For this reason he sometimes gave prints and pictures to Marianne, so that he could say that they were not his to sell or give away.

In 1915 the first of Blampied's prints were shown at the first Modern Masters of Etching exhibition at the Leicester Galleries of Alex Reid & Le Fevre, a major publisher which eventually issued many of Blampied's etchings after the war. The print Restless horse was noted by a reviewer for The Times (March 20 1915, page 13).

Photo of monochrome drawing

By the seaside (click to enlarge)




— 1914 —


Issue: 11-Feb-1914, vol. 85, no. 1098,"The Sketch" Fancy-Dress Supplement, p 1. Type: MO1. Price: 1/-. Author: none. Title: The last look: off to the fancy-dress ball.

Image of monochrome drawing


Issue: 18-Mar-1914, vol. 85, no. 1103, The Sketch Supplement, p 1. Type: MO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: "The car at half-past ten, please".

Image of monochrome drawing


Issue: 1-Apr-1914, vol. 85, no. 1105, The Sketch Supplement, p 1. Type: MO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: Capped for the play: the little Parisienne.

Image of monochrome drawing


Issue: 22-Apr-1914, vol. 86, no. 1108, The Sketch Supplement, p 10. Type: CO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: "Testing the heart . . . He loves me --".

Image of colour drawing

[This drawing was reproduced in the French magazine Fantasio in October 1916.]


Issue: 3-Jun-1914, vol. 86, no. 1114, The Sketch Supplement, p 1. Type: MO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: Net score: one - love!.

[No image available]


Issue: 17-Jun-1914, vol. 86, no. 1116, Summer Number, p xxi. Type: MO1. Price: 1/-. Author: none. Title: A summer study by Blampied. The Whip.

Image of monochrome drawing


Issue: 17-Jun-1914, vol. 86, no. 1116, Summer Number, p xxiv. Type: MO1. Price: 1/-. Author: none. Title: A summer study by Blampied. The winners.

Image of monochrome drawing


Issue: 22-Jul-1914, vol. 87, no. 1121, The Sketch Supplement, p 1. Type: MO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: At the seaside.

Image of colour drawing


Issue: 5-Aug-1914, vol. 87, no. 1123, The Sketch Supplement, p 1. Type: MO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: Sea-bathing is now in season!.

[No image available]


Issue: 9-Dec-1914, vol. 88, no. 1141, Christmas Number 1914, p iv. Type: MO1. Price: 1/-. Author: none. Title: We don't want to lose you; but - "Everybody can help".

Image of monochrome drawing

[This drawing was used in German publications during the First World War as counter-propaganda to show how British men were shirking their responsibility. The drawing was reprinted in the late 1930s on page 121 of an unexpurgated English version of Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler which was published by Hutchinson with Hurst & Blackett, both as a serial in a magazine and in the form of a book.]


Issue: 16-Dec-1914, vol. 88, no. 1142,"The Sketch" Supplement, p 1. Type: MO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: Pets.

[No image available]


— 1915 —


Issue: 13-Jan-1915, vol. 89, no. 1146, The Sketch Supplement, p 1. Type: MO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: Entrenched.

Image of monochrome drawing


Issue: 20-Jan-1915, vol. 89, no. 1147, The Sketch supplement, p 1. Type: MO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: None.

[No image available]


Issue: 27-Jan-1915, vol. 89, no. 1148, The Sketch Supplement, p 1. Type: MO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: "Eyes left!".

[No image available]


Issue: 3-Feb-1915, vol. 89, no. 1149, The Sketch Supplement, p 1. Type: MO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: A fair ally: a Russian peasant girl in her national dress.

Image of monochrome drawing


Issue: 7-Apr-1915, vol. 90, no. 1158, The Sketch Supplement, p 1-12. Type: MO1. Price: 6d. Author: none. Title: "The Sketch Supplement". The "Sketch" and Stage Stars send Souvenirs to Soldiers.

Image of monochrome drawing


Issue: Dec-1915, vol. 92, no. 1192, Christmas number 1915, p xx. Type: MO1. Price: 1/-. Author: none. Title: ". the enemy has been, in turn, checked, shaken, and thrown back".

[No image available]