Basic Design

Maurice de Sausmarez and Leeds

An exploration of the artist, writer and art educator Maurice de Sausmarez's time in Leeds, including his tenure as Lecturer and Head of the Department of Fine Art at the University of Leeds.

The Birth of the University's Department of Fine Art

Maurice de Sausmarez's relationship with the city of Leeds.

Gregory Fellowships

The Gregory Fellowships in the Creative Arts were established in 1949 and ran until 1980.

The University Art Collection

Maurice de Sausmarez's support for the Gregory Fellows continued in his involvement with and recommendations to the University's Art Collection.

Alongside his contributions to the development of the University’s Fine Art Department and the work of the Gregory Fellows, Maurice de Sausmarez was also heavily involved in cultural activities on campus.

Makerere College School of Art

In July 1952, while working as Lecturer and Head of Fine Art, de Sausmarez visited the Makerere College School of Art in Uganda. He visited the college, at the request of the Inter-University Council for Higher Education in the Colonies, to advise on the development of the school and a new Diploma course.

Lectures and Extramural Teaching

Alongside of his work at the University, de Sausmarez also lectured and taught extensively throughout the region. He organised and chaired several lecture series both for students and the public, giving many of the lectures himself and helping to broaden interest in the study of art.

Broadcasting

Throughout his career, Maurice de Sausmarez gave talks and lectures on art history and the discussion around art education reform through various radio and TV broadcasts.

Basic Design

'Basic Design', inspired by Bauhaus education principles, played a vital role in revolutionising art school teaching in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s. The two main principles of the movement were a reasoned and objective approach to teaching and the importance of embracing science, technology and the modern world.

Painting

Maurice de Sausmarez completed many paintings and artworks while living and working in Leeds. He was commissioned to paint several portraits including that of Professor of English Literature and co-founder of the University’s Fine Art Department, Bonamy Dobrée, and of Gregory Fellow in Poetry, James Kirkup.

De Sausmarez wrote 'Basic Design', which played a vital role in revolutionising art school teaching in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s. It was inspired by two main principles of the Bauhaus movement: a reasoned and objective approach to teaching and the importance of embracing science, technology and the modern world. Maurice de Sausmarez was one of the key figures in this movement alongside fellow artists and educators Victor Pasmore, Wendy Pasmore, Tom Hudson, Richard Hamilton and Harry Thubron.

Significant development of the Basic Design teaching methods took place in Yorkshire, particularly Leeds. In 1955 Harry Thubron, supported by de Sausmarez, was appointed as Head of Art at Leeds College of Art (now Leeds Arts University). Thubron’s Basic Design Course was largely developed and founded at the College. The course formed a new model for teaching in art and is still used in Foundation Diplomas taught today.

In 1956 de Sausmarez, Thubron and Hudson contributed to a pivotal Society for Education through Art conference held at Bretton Hall near Wakefield. The ideas and opinions they shared at the conference presented a radical challenge to established teaching methods. De Sausmarez argued against the separation of intellect and intuition. He suggested that the logical and critical faculties developed in young students, without intuition, led to lack of confidence and doubts in their own abilities.

Throughout the 1950s, the Basic Design ideas and principles were also developed at annual residential summer schools in Scarborough. The schools, attended largely by secondary school teachers, provided a testing ground for de Sausmarez and his colleagues to try out their teaching ideas, and for these ideas to then be disseminated more widely. De Sausmarez taught and directed these courses from 1949 to 1953, he was joined by Harry Thubron in 1952 who then continued until the late 1950s and was joined by Victor and Wendy Pasmore, Tom Hudson, Alan Davie, Terry Frost and Hubert Dalwood.

In 1964 de Sausmarez published his influential book Basic Design: The Dynamics of Visual Form. In it he offered exercises and key ideas to inspire and encourage young artists such as mark making, colour theory, analytical drawing and visual kinetics. The book remains in print today.