{"title":"Leon Underwood","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"casement-to-infinity-leon-underwood","title":"Casement to Infinity - Leon Underwood","description":"\u003cp\u003eA surreal still life by British artist Leon Underwood, 'Casement to Infinity' combines symbolic objects with a geometric seascape, creating a dreamlike and thought-provoking composition.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLeon Underwood was a British artist, sculptor, and teacher, known for his contributions to modern art in Britain. He played a significant role in the development of 20th-century British sculpture and printmaking, and his work often explored themes of primitivism, spirituality, and the human form. Underwood's teaching at his own art school influenced a generation of artists, including Henry Moore and Eileen Agar. 'Casement to Infinity' presents a surreal still life set against a geometric seascape. The foreground features a skull adorned with a butterfly, an egg, a pipe, and an abstract sculptural form, all arranged on a dark surface. Behind these objects, a window or 'casement' frames a stylised ocean view with triangular light beams descending from the clouds. The composition blends elements of traditional still life with surrealist imagery, creating a dreamlike and symbolic scene. The colour palette is muted, with tones of beige, brown, and grey dominating the foreground, contrasted by the lighter blues and whites of the sky and sea.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/samarkande-plate-6-compositions-in-the-oriental-style-emile-allain-seguy\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eSamarkande (Plate 6, Compositions in the Oriental Style) - Émile-Allain Séguy — Émile-Allain Séguy\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/apotheosis-of-hercules-giovanni-domenico-tiepolo\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eApotheosis of Hercules - Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo — Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Leon Underwood","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":57698697969999,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":57698702819663,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":57698702852431,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Casement-to-Infinity_Poster_CompositorV1_1778806324280.jpg?v=1778810894"},{"product_id":"banana-launch-leon-underwood","title":"Banana Launch - Leon Underwood","description":"\u003cp\u003eA scene of figures aboard a boat, set against a backdrop of a tropical island, by British artist Leon Underwood. The colour palette is restrained, featuring muted blues, greens, and earth tones.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLeon Underwood's 'Banana Launch' depicts a scene of figures aboard a boat, set against a backdrop of a tropical island. The composition is divided into distinct planes, with the boat occupying the foreground and the island forming the background. The figures are rendered in a simplified, almost blocky style, with attention paid to their poses and interactions. The colour palette is restrained, featuring muted blues, greens, and earth tones, which contribute to the overall sense of calm. The brushwork is visible, adding a tactile quality to the surface of the painting. Underwood was a British artist, sculptor, and teacher, known for his interest in primitivism and his exploration of the human form. He studied at the Royal College of Art and later established his own art school, where he taught many influential artists. His work often explored themes of nature, mythology, and the human condition, reflecting his diverse interests and intellectual curiosity. 'Banana Launch' is a good example of his distinctive style, which combines elements of realism and abstraction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/samarkande-plate-6-compositions-in-the-oriental-style-emile-allain-seguy\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eSamarkande (Plate 6, Compositions in the Oriental Style) - Émile-Allain Séguy — Émile-Allain Séguy\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/portrait-of-charles-i-of-england-anthony-van-dyck\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003ePortrait of Charles I of England - Anthony van Dyck — Anthony van Dyck\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Leon Underwood","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":57698714026319,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":57698717401423,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":57698717434191,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Banana-Launch_Poster_CompositorV1_1778806685635.jpg?v=1778811493"},{"product_id":"captain-george-burdon-mckean-vc-mc-leon-underwood","title":"Captain George Burdon McKean, VC, MC - Leon Underwood","description":"\u003cp\u003eA formal portrait of Captain George Burdon McKean by British artist Leon Underwood, capturing the officer in his military uniform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eThis portrait depicts Captain George Burdon McKean, a Canadian officer who received the Victoria Cross and the Military Cross for his service during the First World War. Leon Underwood, a British artist known for his diverse output in sculpture, painting, and printmaking, captures the subject in his formal military uniform. The composition is direct, focusing on the sitter's posture and the specific details of his rank and decorations. \n\nUnderwood employs a controlled application of paint, with visible brushwork that adds texture to the uniform and the background. The colour palette is dominated by the muted olive tones of the military tunic, contrasted against a dark, textured backdrop that suggests a studio setting. The lighting is focused on the face of the subject, drawing attention to his expression. \n\nThis work reflects the period following the First World War, when many artists were commissioned to document the individuals who served. Underwood, who himself served in the Royal Engineers during the conflict, brings a sense of observation to the portrait. The painting avoids excessive ornamentation, prioritising a clear representation of the officer. The inclusion of the book under the subject's hand adds a subtle narrative element, suggesting a moment of pause or reflection. The work provides a record of a specific historical figure, rendered with the technical precision characteristic of Underwood's early career. The portrait remains a clear example of the formal military portraiture of the early twentieth century, balancing the requirements of a commission with the artist's own stylistic approach to form and light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/female-model-vilhelm-lundstrom-2\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eFemale Model - Vilhelm Lundstrøm — Vilhelm Lundstrøm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/florence-ger-gerrits\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eFlorence - Ger Gerrits — Ger Gerrits\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Leon Underwood","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58234325172559,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58234325238095,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":58234325270863,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58234325369167,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":58234325401935,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58234325434703,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58234325500239,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":58234325533007,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58234325565775,"sku":null,"price":117.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58234325598543,"sku":null,"price":117.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":58234325664079,"sku":null,"price":117.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58234325696847,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58234325762383,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":58234325795151,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Canvas \/ XS Canvas (20x30cm) \/ -","offer_id":58234326319439,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Canvas \/ Small Canvas (30x40cm) \/ -","offer_id":58234326352207,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Canvas \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58234326417743,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Captain-George-Burdon-McKean-VC-MC_Poster_CompositorV1_1782607926708.jpg?v=1782608214"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/en-nz\/collections\/leon-underwood.oembed","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}