Georgiana Houghton: Spirit Drawings Paperback – 30 Sept. 2016

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My interest in this book was real really only in considering the works as precursory abstraction rather than through any interest in spiritualism; Theosophy was known to have influenced early abstract artists but Georgiana Houghton`s watercolours are among the earliest examples of a form of western abstraction to appear in the context of fine art.This slim paperback exhibition catalogue presents 26 of her watercolour drawings in full-colour plates including reproductions of the written explanations of their meanings that appear on the back of each work.Texts consist of two essays that help to contextualise spiritualist art of the period and Houghton`s place in the history of both the movement and the wider art of her times.An interesting book, nicely illustrated.

As previous reviewer PJB notes, it really is fascinating how the Spiritualism of the late 19th/early20th centuries inspired so much wonderous art. One might consider the possibilities of certain sensitive, creative people with a deep & fluid connection to the Unconscious, expressing the longing for mythic & transcendent meaning as the world entered the age of science & progress … especially, the empty hole that the loss of traditional faith & belief left in the public psyche, one that all the science & progress in the world has been able to fill satisfactorily.But that's just one line of speculation. The thing that's not in doubt is the mysterious beauty & power of these paintings. Whether you believe in Spiritualism or not, whether you believe in any transcendent worldview or not, these paintings are powerfully charged with beauty & a sense of the otherworldly, another dimension of experience. And simply as works of proto-abstract art, they are captivating to the open eye & the receptive heart. One can spend hours over any one of them, letting the forms lead your musing thoughts to … well, anywhere your more sensitive thoughts are naturally inclined to go. And that's a good place to be at times — for lovers of the esoteric, for loves of abstraction, most highly recommended!

I am a skeptic about spiritualism, but not about Houghton's Art.Her paintings are amazing and beautiful . Quite an achievement to paint pure abstract painting in the 1860s.I have no doubt as to the sincerity of her Spiritualist beliefs, and that these beliefs were the inspiration for her art.Houghton was certainly in an altered state when she created her artworks, and had she painted them without the Label of Spiritualism she would be famous as an artist half a century ahead of her time IMHO.The only criticism I have of the book is that it is quite small , and these beautiful detailed paintings, are probably even more impressive when seen on a larger scale.I recommend this book to all art enthusiasts, and those who want to see the work of an artist who deserves to be much better known.

Really interesting how 1800's spiritual life informed an advanced and esoteric abstract art