Woman at Table
Partly of German and Swedish descent, Weight's work is characterised by his ability to embrace and blend a wide variety of preoccupations and influences, including Impressionism and Surrealism. The latter in particular is reflected in his many enigmatic and exotic scenes, although his pure portraits are often more traditional in their approach. Following an abandoned career as a singer, Weight studied art in London at Hammersmiths' and Goldsmiths' Schools of Art. He exhibited extensively from his first solo show in 1934 until his death in 1997. In 1945 he was appointed as an Official War Artist. Weight enjoyed a long teaching career, most notably as Professor of Painting at the Royal College of Art, where David Hockney (b.1937) was amongst his students. Weight has said that some of his work is influenced by music, and the sometimes vivid colours and unusual tones he uses seem to reflect this. The Ferens' portrait, however, appears to be more in character with the subdued and somewhat dour tones employed by many artists in the immediate post-war years.
