Kew Gardens | 1936

Kew Gardens, 1936, by Edward Bawden

This striking 1936 lithograph by Edward Bawden presents a richly detailed and stylized depiction of Kew Gardens. The composition is a collage of key elements from the gardens, featuring the red, tiered pagoda at the centre, surrounded by lush plants and wildlife. A mallard floats in a rippling pond, while a blackbird perches on a stone urn in the foreground. To the right, oversized botanical illustrations of flowers and leaves add an intricate, decorative touch. Bawden’s characteristic use of bold outlines and flat planes of colour, particularly the deep greens, earthy reds, and soft beige tones, brings a sense of rhythm and movement to the scene.

Commissioned by the London Passenger Transport Board, this poster aimed to promote Kew Gardens as an accessible retreat from urban life. During the 1930s, such posters were instrumental in encouraging public use of London's transport system to visit cultural and natural landmarks.

Edward Bawden (1903–1989) was a prominent British artist and illustrator, renowned for his contributions to graphic design and printmaking. A graduate of the Royal College of Art, he was influenced by his tutor, Paul Nash, and became associated with the Great Bardfield Artists, a collective known for their innovative approaches to art and design. Bawden's versatility spanned book illustrations, murals, and wallpapers, and he served as an official war artist during World War II.