John Samuel Tunnard: A Life in Modern British Art

John Samuel Tunnard (1900-1971) stands as a pivotal figure in English modernist painting and design, whose artistic journey intertwined seamlessly with the evolving landscape of British art throughout the early 20th century. Born in Sandwich, Kent, his formative years instilled within him a profound appreciation for craftsmanship and visual storytelling—influences that would reverberate across his prolific oeuvre. Initially pursuing design studies at the Royal College of Art from 1919 to 1923, Tunnard established a foundational skillset crucial to his subsequent explorations into textile artistry and ultimately, painting itself.

Early Career & Textile Design: The Seeds of Vision

His early professional endeavors centered around Manchester’s vibrant textile industry, where he honed his understanding of pattern, color theory, and compositional principles—elements that would become indispensable tools in shaping his artistic vocabulary. Notably, his partnership with Mary May Robertson fostered a collaborative spirit that enriched both their personal lives and creative output. Recognizing the burgeoning potential for artistic expression beyond traditional mediums, Tunnard embarked on a dedicated path toward painting by 1928, marking a decisive shift towards pursuing his own distinctive aesthetic vision. He taught design at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London from 1929 onwards, nurturing the next generation of artists while simultaneously refining his artistic practice.

Surrealist Influences & The Cornish Landscape

Tunnard’s artistic sensibilities were profoundly shaped by Surrealism—a movement that championed dreamlike imagery and subconscious exploration as avenues for artistic innovation. Exhibited alongside luminaries such as Yves Tanguy, Paul Nash, Graham Sutherland, and John Piper during his lifetime, he garnered widespread acclaim and cemented his position within the British Surrealist circle. His artistic explorations found particular resonance in Cornwall, where he established a silk block-printing business amidst the rugged beauty of the Cornish coastline—a setting that served as both inspiration and catalyst for his paintings. The coastal strip was the southernmost ‘front’ of Great Britain during the Second World War, and Tunnard's daily view would have been towards occupied France and across an embattled mass of sky and sea.

“The Trial”: A Descent Into Complexity

“The Trial,” completed in 1944, exemplifies Tunnard’s masterful command of perspective and his penchant for unsettling visual narratives—characteristics that align perfectly with the Surrealist ethos. The painting depicts a solitary man confronting a doorway bathed in crimson light, surrounded by figures engaged in various activities. However, it is not merely a depiction of physical space; rather, it operates as a complex psychological landscape—a “down the rabbit hole” journey into realms of multiple planes and intersecting lines. As a critic of The Times was to later write about Tunnard’s work during this period, his imagery seemed to spring directly from the war, from a time when deserted airships beneath the moon and skies scored with the smoke-trails of aerial battles brought a sudden anticipatory glimpse of the space-age. Mr Tunnard’s obsession with the dynamics of flight, and his visions of an upper ether patterned and articulated by them were never… documentary records, but more like romantic pictorial science-fiction. The painting leads its viewer into a world of multiple planes, lines and voids. Peering into its visual machine, one’s investigations are quickly interrupted by a disappearing line, or a strike that crosses one’s view or bends one’s vision along a new route. The viewer’s eye experiences a kind of paroxysm while looking at this painting. A darting effect is produced that leaves us confused as to the ‘real’ nature of the pattern itself. Whatever was first understood becomes distorted and we are left with such questions as: where is the front? where is at the back? what indeed, is happening here?.

Recurring Motifs & Artistic Legacy

Throughout his artistic career, Tunnard consistently employed recurring motifs—such as ochre-yellow figures and sharply defined base points—demonstrating a deliberate stylistic consistency. Furthermore, influences from Modern fabric design, an interest in marine life, free-association music (Tunnard was a keen jazz player), and the natural world—particularly his fascination with rare insects for the Natural History Museum—contributed to shaping his artistic worldview. “The Trial” stands as a testament to Tunnard’s enduring legacy—a captivating exploration of visual perception and psychological depth that continues to inspire artists and collectors alike.