Already as a student at the Slade School of Arts in London in the 1950s, Paula Rego (1935-2022) experimented with etchings. Then, 30 years later, she delved into the medium in earnest. In the years that followed, she produced masterful prints that dealt with themes of abuse of power, gender roles, sexuality and poverty in a similarly radical way to her paintings. The Burton at Bideford presents this rarely considered aspect of Rego's oeuvre in Paula Rego: An Enduring Journey. The exhibits will be on display there from 7 January to 20 February 2023.
Over 30 of the prints on display hung in the painter's home until her death last summer. The exhibition now opens up the opportunity to get a private glimpse of what Rego surrounded herself with on a daily basis. The artworks are inspired by poems, novels and English folk tales, as well as Rego's own memories and experiences. The works, though mostly designed 30 years ago, prove to be highly contemporary.
