Eileen Agar was born into considerable wealth in Buenos Aires, daughter to a Scottish father and an American mother. The family relocated to London when she was 11 years old.
After studying art at various schools, including The Slade, Agar briefly swapped middle-class respectability for Left-Bank Paris, and an artistic environment populated by the likes of Picasso, Lee Miller, André Breton and Paul Éluard.
Falling under the spell of Surrealism, she would become one of the most diverse British artists of her era, instilling her passion for music and nature in imaginatively playful objects, collages, photographs and paintings.
Agar is often described as a Surrealist — in part because she was one of the few female artists to participate in the notorious International Surrealist Exhibition of 1936 (at which Salvador Dalí almost suffocated while wearing a diving helmet). In her biography, Agar explained that it was actually Roland Penrose and Herbert Read who declared she was a Surrealist and, bemused, she went along with it.
Beautiful, witty and brilliantly imaginative, Agar was later described as a ‘seaside Surrealist’ for her beachcombing still-life paintings that revealed a sharp eye for the uncanny in objects. These were largely inspired by her intense relationship with Paul Nash, who introduced her to the concept of the found object.
Today, the Tate owns several of Eileen Agar’s paintings, including the wonderfully supernatural Head of Dylan Thomas (1960).
Eileen Agar (British, 1899-1991) Untitled 1981 signed and dated 'AGAR 1981' (lower right) acrylic, crayon, felt-tip pen and pencil on paper 42 x 29.5cm (16 1/2 x 11 5/8in).
Eileen Agar (UK, 1899-1991) ‘Pastoral Images', Abstract composition gouache, pastel and ink Signed lower centre left, mounted, framed and glazed, 45.5cm x 36.5cm excluding the mount and frame
▲ Eileen Agar RA (Argentinian-British, 1899-1991) 'Past and Present' screenprint in colours, 1990, artist's proof, signed 'AGAR', inscribed and numbered 'A/P 23/25' sheet 75 x 56cm Condition Report: Framed: 92 x 72cm Cockling. Discolouration to the margins. The colours are strong. Not viewed out of glazed frame.
Eileen Agar (Buenos Aires, 1899 - London, 1991) The Muse Listening, circa 1940 Painted wood lyre, collage, shells, ropes, with a bird's shape in sculpted and gilded wood and an antique style head in terracotta Annotated on a label on the back 49 x 29 x 4 cm Provenance: - Galerie 1900-2000, Paris - Geneviève and Jean-Paul Kahn collection, Paris Exhibition: - Paris, Galerie 1900-2000, "Les enfants d'Alice", 1982, described in the catalogue under no.11 p. 93 and illustrated p. 19 - Exeter, Exeter City Gallery and Exe gallery, The Enchanted Domain. Surrealist Art. 1 January 1967, described in the catalogue under no.7 Bibliography: Whitney Chadwick, "Les femmes dans le mouvement surrealiste", Ed. Thames and Hudson, 2002, illustrated in the catalogue p. 150, n137 Eileen Agar (Buenos Aires, 1899 - Londres, 1991) The Muse Listening, circa 1940 Objet composé d'une lyre en bois peint avec ses cordes, collage, coquillages, cordage, surmonté d'un corps d'oiseau en bois sculpté doré et d'une tête à l'antique en terre cuite Annoté sur une étiquette au dos 49 x 29 x 4 cm Provenance : - Galerie 1900-2000, Paris - Collection Geneviève et Jean-Paul Kahn, Paris Exposition : - Paris, Galerie 1900-2000, "Les enfants d'Alice", 1982, décrit au catalogue sous le n°11 p. 93 et reproduit p. 19 - Exeter, Exeter City Gallery and Exe gallery, The Enchanted Domain. Surrealist Art. 1er janvier 1967, décrit au catalogue sous le n°7 Bibliographie : Whitney Chadwick, "Les femmes dans le mouvement surréaliste", Ed. Thames and Hudson, 2002, reproduit au catalogue p. 150, n°137
Mixed media drawing/painting by listed United Kingdom / Argentinia artist Eileen Forrester Agar (1899-1991). The medium is watercolor, pastel, pen and pencil on paper under glass. Features a Princess and is signed in the lower left. Sight measures approx. 8-1/2" across x 8-1/2" tall, framed measures 11-5/8" across x 11-5/8" tall.
EILEEN AGAR (1899-1991) Sans titre signé et daté 'Agar 1938' (en bas à gauche) collage sur papier Exécuté en 1938 signed and dated 'Agar 1938' (lower left) collage on paper Executed in 1938 21 x 15 cm. 8 1/4 x 5 7/8 in.
Eileen Agar (British, 1899-1991) Family Trio signed and dated 'AGAR/1931' (lower right) pen and ink and pencil on paper 17.5 x 18.5cm (6 7/8 x 7 5/16in). together with a further lino cut, The Family Trio, 1931, by the same hand (2)
Eileen Agar (British, 1899-1991) Family Trio signed and dated 'AGAR/1931-' (lower right) watercolour and pencil on paper 30.5 x 33.5cm (12 x 13 3/16in).
§ EILEEN AGAR (BRITISH, 1899-1991) EILEEN AGAR (BRITISH, 1899-1991) Abstract in green, yellow and purple signed 'AGAR' (lower right) mixed media 29.5 x 21 cm. (11 5/8 x 8 1/4 in.) Purchased from Cheffins, 25 Jan 2018, lot 329 Provenance Sale; Cheffins, Cambridge, 25 January 2018, lot 329, where purchased by the present owner
Eileen Agar (British, 1899-1991) Kynance Cove signed 'AGAR' (lower right); further signed, titled and dated 'EILEEN AGAR/KYNANCE COVE/1945' (on sheet verso) watercolour and pencil on paper 27 x 35cm (10 5/8 x 13 3/4in).
Eileen Agar (British, 1899-1991) Untitled signed and dated 'AGAR/83' (lower right) collage, watercolour, pastel, felt-tip pen and pencil on paper 15.5 x 20.5cm (6 1/8 x 8 1/16in).
Eileen Agar (British, 1899-1991) Sunburst titled and dated 'SUNBURST/1950's.' (verso) gouache, oil pastel and pencil on inside of book cover 40 x 28.7 cm. (15 3/4 x 11 1/4 in.)
Eileen Agar (British, 1899-1991) Design for Exhibition Poster signed and dated '1962/EILEEN/AGAR/MARCH' (centre) gouache and collage on paper 49.5 x 62.5cm (19 1/2 x 24 5/8in).
EILEEN AGAR (1899-1991) Sans titre signé et daté 'Agar 1948' (en bas à droite) gouache, aquarelle, encre et crayon sur papier dans un double portefeuilles photo en peau de serpent Exécuté en 1948 signed and dated 'Agar 1948' (lower right) gouache, watercolour, ink and pencil on paper in a double snakeskin photo frame Executed in 1948 22 x 35.2 cm. (8 5/8 x 13 7/8 in.)
EILEEN AGAR, R.A. (1899-1991) Man and Woman EILEEN AGAR, R.A. (1899-1991) /Man and Woman/ signed 'AGAR' (lower right) watercolour, gouache and collage on paper 10 1/4 x 13 3/4 in. (26 x 34.9 cm.) Executed /circa/ 1946.
Eileen Agar (British, 1899-1991) Squares signed 'AGAR' (lower right) collage of cut paper and card 41.6 x 30.3 cm. (16 3/8 x 11 7/8 in.) For further information on this lot please visit the Bonhams website
Eileen AGAR (1904-1991) Personnage fantastiques Huile sr toile trace inscription et trace de signature en bas à droie 35 x 46 cm -13.77 x 18.11 in. Oil on canvas trace of inscription and trace of signature lower right
Eileen Agar (1899-1991) Venus Triumphant Pen and ink with white gouache, 1934, signed and dated in pencil lower right, on wove paper with watermark, sheet 254 x 190mm (10 x 7 1/2in) This lot is sold subject to Artists Resale Rights, details of which can be found in our Terms and Conditions.
§ EILEEN AGAR, R.A. (1899-1991) EILEEN AGAR, R.A. (1899-1991) Birthday card signed AGAR (lower right) pastel and collage 13 x 9 cm (5 x 3 1/2 in) PROVENANCE: A gift from the artist to the present owner The card bears the below inscription: Many Happy returns of the day to games, to celebrate your Birthday in Sicily with the Sun! With love & kisses from Eileen.
§ EILEEN AGAR, R.A. (1899-1991) EILEEN AGAR, R.A. (1899-1991) Untitled signed AGAR (lower right) etching image: 6.5 x 5.5 cm (2 1/2 x 2 1/4 in) Published by Methuen together with Birch & Conran as a card to accompany the publishing of A look at my life, Agar's autobiography
§ EILEEN AGAR, R.A. (1899-1991) EILEEN AGAR, R.A. (1899-1991) Family trio signed AGAR (lower right), numbered 86/100 (lower left) woodcut 20 x 29 cm (7 3/4 x 11 1/2 in)