The article discusses Andy Friend’s book, “Comrades in Art: Artists Against Fascism 1933-1943,” focusing on the Artists International Association (AIA)—a radical artists’ union founded in London during economically tumultuous times marked by benefit cuts, class struggle, and rising fascism. The AIA aimed to unite artists against imperialist war and fascism, providing a platform for political motivation through art. Initially, a small group of underemployed artists, influenced by their experiences in Soviet Russia, banded together at the AIA’s first meeting.
As the AIA grew, it engaged with various art styles and produced impactful exhibitions and political graphics, attracting prominent artists like Henry Moore and Pablo Picasso. The organization was intertwined with global anti-fascist movements and played a key role in providing support for artists fleeing Nazi oppression. Friend emphasizes the AIA’s evolution and its significant influence on public opinion and progressive agendas, particularly during the rise of fascism in the 1930s.
While the book richly details the group’s early years, it is not a comprehensive history, omitting later developments after 1943. Nevertheless, it sheds light on the AIA’s substantial impact and its relevance in a contemporary context where similar autocratic threats emerge globally.
