This July, we're shining a spotlight on Art-Quake, 1910: The Manet and the Post-Impressionist Exhibition by David Boyd Haycock, a fascinating account of one of the most influential exhibitions in British art history. Published by Old Street Publishing in May 2026, this beautifully presented hardback is available for just £12.99 and offers an engaging look at the moment modern art arrived in Britain.

In November 1910, the Grafton Galleries in London opened the groundbreaking exhibition Manet and the Post-Impressionists. Organised by the artist and critic Roger Fry, the exhibition introduced British audiences to the revolutionary works of artists including Paul Cézanne, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Paul Gauguin, and Vincent van Gogh. For many visitors, these bold, expressive paintings challenged everything they believed art should be.

The reaction was immediate and dramatic. Some critics dismissed the works as unfinished or even absurd, while others were inspired by the freedom and innovation they represented. The exhibition became a defining moment in the history of modern art in Britain, encouraging artists to move beyond traditional styles and embrace new ways of seeing the world. As the writer Virginia Woolf famously observed, "On or about December 1910, human character changed," capturing the sense that the exhibition reflected broader cultural and social transformations taking place across Europe.

David Boyd Haycock vividly recreates this remarkable period, bringing together the personalities behind the exhibition as well as the artists whose work would reshape the course of art history. Alongside Roger Fry, readers are introduced to members of the Bloomsbury Group, whose ideas about art, literature, and society helped define early twentieth-century Britain. Haycock's accessible storytelling makes this an enjoyable read for both art enthusiasts and those discovering the period for the first time.

The book is particularly relevant to visitors to The Courtauld. Many of the artists featured in Art-Quake, 1910 are represented in The Courtauld's world-renowned collection, with masterpieces by Cézanne, Gauguin, Manet, Van Gogh, and others displayed in the galleries. Reading the book alongside a visit offers valuable context, revealing why these works were once considered radical and how they transformed the direction of modern art.

There's another special connection, too. The striking poster created to promote the original Manet and the Post-Impressionists exhibition—designed by members of the Bloomsbury Group—is preserved in The Courtauld's collection. Visitors inspired by the book can also take home a piece of this history, as the poster is now available through The Courtauld Shop's Print on Demand collection.

Whether you're fascinated by Impressionism, curious about the Bloomsbury Group, or simply looking for an engaging history of a pivotal cultural moment, Art-Quake, 1910 is an excellent choice. It tells the story of an exhibition that shocked, challenged, and ultimately changed British art forever.