Y OF
TES
ALES
OUR
Y T
AH FRANK
GES : C
F
AIR
ORDS : ZOE GRAMS
W IMA HANN
As a school pupil, Hannah Frank wrote: “If inspiration from poets, and her creation of
they would leave the choice to me, I think the drawings was inseperably intertwined
I know what I would be. To be an artist with the creation of poetry. She would say
my desire, I’d paint mere nymphs and ne’er poems to herself in her room at night, and
would tire.” She has done exactly this. see images at the same time.
Her work has been exhibited at the Royal As a result, there is an otherworldly quality
Glasgow Institute, the Royal Academy, to the drawings. They show a variety of
and the Royal Scottish Academy amongst atmospheres, yet belong to none. Long,
others, but after a tour to celebrate her 100th spindly, androdynous yet feminine creatures
birthday, her collection has returned to are painted with fluid, almost languid
its home: the University of Glasgow. lines. Flowers litter the ground or decorate
the creatures’ cloaks as they swoosh into
A native-born to Glasgow after her Jewish darkness. Shadowy figures emerge from or
parents emigrated from Russia in the late shrink into the background with just one
19th century to avoid persecution, Frank well-placed white line.
has lived in the city throughout her 100
years, significantly contributing to the Jewish Even at 100, Frank has a dry, knowing sense
and art communities here. She attended of humour. Her vitality during her teenage
university to study English and Latin, and years and 20s has been carried into her work
took night classes at the School of Art where to such an extent that they still feel young,
she studied with the likes of Benno Schotz relevant and current. There’s a wisdom, and
and Paul Zunterstein. From 17 she produced a cheekiness, to them: a combination that’s
a variety of pen and ink drawings before seldom seen.
working solely in sculpture after 1952. Many
of her works were published in Every drawing submitted to GUM was
GUM between 1927 and 1932. done so under her pseudonym Al Aaraaf:
a reference to a poem by Edgar Allen Poe
Her images reflect the Art Nouveau period, describing a star that suddenly appeared in
holding many characteristics you would the night sky, growing brighter than Venus,
expect of work from this time. Yet there’s only to disappear suddenly. A young Frank
an unusual quality to Frank’s work, one that considered this to be apt to her. There’s
you can’t quite put your finger on. Each no doubt that as a teenager Frank was
image seems so familiar it could have been thoughtful, creativeand extremely talented.
seen dozens of times before, even when new But perhaps she wasn’t as insightful
to the viewer. They feel timeless, in the creation of her pen name as she was
depicting what could be a medieval in the rest of her work.
gathering, a Greek myth, a fairytale, or a
victorian tryst. They apply to every story of Her last sculpture was done at 94 years old.
revenge or romance you have heard. She moved into a care home in 2002 where
her works are still displayed. She has not
Arguably, the influence of poetry on her burnt strong and quick only to have then
work is partially responsible for this. An avid extinguished: her talent continues to be a
reader, and poet herself, Frank took steady glow in Glasgow after 100 years.
GUM•3
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