Hannah Frank, A Glasgow Artist (1908-2008)

Hannah Frank, born in Glasgow in 1908, studied at Glasgow University and the Glasgow School of Art. She produced her trademark black and white drawings from the age of 17 in 1925, and between 1927 to 1932 the GUM, the Glasgow University Magazine, rarely came out without a drawing by 'Al Aaraaf', her chosen pen name. Gilbert Highet, GUM editor in the late 1920s (and later on Professor of Latin Language and Literature at Columbia University, New York) was an early fan. Hannah's haunting black and white drawings are resonant of the Art Nouveau period and with a hint of Aubrey Beardsley and Jessie King.

She took up sculpture in the 1950s, studying with Benno Schotz; and her drawings and sculpture were exhibited in the Royal Glasgow Institute, the Royal Academy, and the Royal Scottish Academy, throughout her artistic career. Sydney Goodsir Smith, a well-known critic of the time wrote of her Royal Academy submission, Resting Woman, "...one of the most covetable small pieces is a tiny green bronze, Woman Resting, by Hannah Frank". Hannah Frank continued to produce sculpture till her early 90s.

In 2002, aged 94, she moved with her husband Lionel Levy to a care home in Glasgow, where her drawings and sculpture are on show and are much admired by residents, staff and visitors. Hannah Frank died at the ripe age of 100 in December 2008. For more information, please contact Hannah Frank's nephew, Jonathan in Boston, USA at 1 617 529 0719 or jfrank824@gmail.com

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