Dora Carrington, born on March 29, 1893, in Hereford, England, was a British painter and decorative artist known for her distinctive style and her association with the Bloomsbury Group. Despite her talent and the recognition she received during her lifetime, her work has often been overshadowed by her personal life and relationships.
Carrington, whose full name was Dorothy Carrington, was the daughter of Samuel Carrington, a railway engineer. She initially showed little interest in art, focusing instead on her studies at Bedford College for Women, where she studied painting. However, her artistic talent was recognized, and she was encouraged to develop it further.
Her painting style was influenced by the Post-Impressionists and Fauvism, with a notable emphasis on color and light. Carrington's work often depicted rural scenes, domestic interiors, and portraits, capturing the essence of her life and the lives of those around her. Her art was not just about visual representation but also about conveying a sense of intimacy and emotional depth.
Carrington became associated with the Bloomsbury Group through her relationship with Lytton Strachey. Although she was not a formal member, her connections with key figures like Virginia Woolf, Roger Fry, and Duncan Grant were significant. Her personal life was complex; she had a platonic marriage with Ralph Partridge while maintaining a long-term romantic relationship with Strachey, who was openly homosexual.
Carrington's life was marked by intense personal relationships, particularly her relationship with Strachey, which was a profound emotional bond. After Strachey's death in 1932, she was deeply affected, leading to her tragic suicide by gunshot in 1932, just two months after his passing.
Despite her early death, Carrington left behind a body of work that has grown in appreciation over time. Her paintings are now recognized for their unique blend of realism and emotional expression, offering insight into both her personal world and the cultural milieu of the early 20th century. Her life and art have been subjects of interest in several biographies, films, and exhibitions: