Blast (magazine)

Blast (magazine). A radical periodical of the early 20th century, Blast was the polemical mouthpiece of the Vorticism art movement. Edited by the painter and writer Wyndham Lewis, its two explosive issues, published in London just before and during the First World War, declared war on the artistic establishment. The magazine's aggressive typography, manifestos, and avant-garde content made it a seminal document of British modernism.

History and founding

The magazine was conceived by Wyndham Lewis in 1914 as a direct challenge to the prevailing artistic sentiments of the time, particularly the sentimentality of the Bloomsbury Group and the continental influence of Futurism led by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. Lewis sought to establish a distinctly hard-edged, mechanistic, and English avant-garde, which he termed Vorticism. The founding circle, known as the Rebel Art Centre, included figures like Ezra Pound, who coined the term "Vorticism," and the sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska. Financial backing was provided by the wealthy artist Kate Lechmere. The first issue was published on June 20, 1914, with its famous bright pink cover, deliberately timed to create maximum impact on the London cultural scene.

Content and artistic style

The content of Blast was a violent mixture of manifestos, art criticism, poetry, and reproductions of abstract artworks. Its most iconic feature was its use of bold, blocky typography and dramatic lists "blasting" and "blessing" various aspects of English society and culture. It blasted such targets as the British Empire, Victorianism, and the climate of England, while paradoxically blessing things like French sailors and humor. The magazine published early examples of abstract art by Lewis and Edward Wadsworth, alongside literary contributions. The writing style was deliberately abrasive and hyperbolic, aiming to shock the reader out of complacency, with essays attacking Roger Fry and the Omega Workshops.

Key contributors and figures

The central figure was undoubtedly Wyndham Lewis, who served as editor, principal polemicist, and graphic artist. The poet Ezra Pound was a crucial literary contributor and theorist, providing poems and essays that defined the movement's intellectual stance. The sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska contributed drawings and forceful writings on art until his tragic death in the war. Other notable contributors included the painter and engraver Edward Wadsworth, the writer and painter Jessica Dismorr, and the poet T. S. Eliot, whose "Preludes" and "Rhapsody on a Windy Night" appeared in the second issue. The Suffragette and artist Helen Saunders also provided illustrations.

Cultural impact and legacy

Though short-lived, Blast had a disproportionate impact on the trajectory of modern art and literature in Britain. It announced the arrival of a homegrown, radical modernism that engaged with the machine age and abstraction. Its aggressive style influenced later avant-garde publications and the graphic design of propaganda and advertising. The magazine is now seen as a crucial artifact of the pre-war avant-garde, a last fiery outburst of artistic experimentation before the cataclysm of the Western Front. Its legacy is studied in relation to Dada, Surrealism, and the development of modernist little magazines. The Tate Britain and other major institutions have held exhibitions examining its role.

Publication history and issues

Only two issues of Blast were ever published. The first, known as "The Review of the Great English Vortex," appeared on June 20, 1914. The second and final issue, dubbed the "War Number," was published in July 1915, by which time the First World War had dramatically altered the cultural landscape and claimed the life of key contributor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska. Plans for further issues were abandoned as contributors enlisted or were consumed by the war effort. The magazine's brief but intense publication run encapsulates the abrupt end of the pre-war avant-garde period. Original copies are now rare collector's items, with facsimile editions published by institutions like the Black Sparrow Press and Thames & Hudson. Category:British literary magazines Category:Modernist magazines Category:Publications established in 1914 Category:1914 establishments in the United Kingdom