…art critic Clive Bell, 32, is considering an opportunity.
His friend and fellow art critic, Roger Fry, 46, has been asked by publisher Chatto and Windus to write a book on post-impressionism, a term that Roger coined and used for two major art exhibits he has mounted in the past few years.
Fry is the obvious choice, but currently he is too busy setting up his ‘Omega Workshops’ to sell ceramics and fabrics with painters Duncan Grant, 28, and Vanessa Bell, 34, Clive’s wife. So he has recommended Clive for the job.
Clive and Roger have had their theoretical differences about art. They’d recently sustained an argument about the definition of the term ‘aesthetic’ in the Nation magazine.
But Roger is distracted by his Omega project. And by Vanessa, Clive thinks. So the book would be all his. Clive decides to call it Art.
Clive Bell, c. 1913
This year, we’ll be telling stories about these groups of ‘such friends,’ before, during and after their times together.
If you were able to watch the BBC Two drama Life in Squares about the Bloomsbury group, let us know what you think.
To walk with me and the ‘Such Friends’ through Bloomsbury, download the Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group audio walking tour from VoiceMap.
SuchFriends Blog 
Hi Kathleen – I love your blogs about the Bloomsbury Set so I went and did your walk when I was in London two weeks ago – it’s great! – I was amazed to hear how many of the gang lived on that same side of Gordon Square!! Ive been watching ‘Life in Squares’ which filled in a few gaps in my knowledge – so I feel I ‘know’ them all better now.
That’s fabulous! I’m glad it worked and glad you’re reading. I’m working on the next blog post–Roger Fry!–right now. Would like to know how you found me?