Mark Gertler Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Mark Gertler was a British painter known for his vivid, expressive portraits and landscapes. Born in 1891 in London’s East End to Jewish immigrant parents, Gertler grew up in difficult circumstances but showed early artistic talent. He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, where he became friends with influential artists like Dora Carrington and Paul Nash.

Gertler’s bold, Post-Impressionist style was shaped by his time in Paris, where he encountered works by Cézanne, Van Gogh and Picasso. Back in London, he was a key figure in the avant-garde scene and exhibited with the Camden Town Group and London Group. Some of his best-known works include the anti-war painting “Merry-Go-Round” (1916) and sensual portraits like “The Artist’s Mother” (1911).

From 1915 to 1932, Gertler lived and worked at 32 Elder Street in Spitalfields, not far from where he was born. The area was a hub for Jewish immigrants at the time and this cultural background often featured in Gertler’s art. Despite early success, he struggled with depression and a declining reputation in his later years. Sadly, he died by suicide at his studio in 1939 at the age of 48. This blue plaque was put up in 1975 to commemorate Gertler’s life and significant contribution to 20th-century British painting.

32 Elder Street lies in the heart of Spitalfields in Tower Hamlets. This East London borough has long been home to successive waves of immigrants, from Huguenot silk weavers in the 17th century to the Bangladeshi community today. It’s an area known for its vibrant history, cultural diversity, and artistic spirit – qualities embodied in the life and work of Mark Gertler.