Doris Zinkeisen (1898-1991)

At the Theatre.

Signed lower right

Oil on Canvas

Painted c.1939

A similar painting was commissioned by London Transport in 1939 it depicts two female theatre goers in the same theatre box. The purpose was to encourage travel to London's ‘Theatreland’ but the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 meant that promoting 'frivolous' activities was deemed inappropriate and the poster was printed but never used. This work is certainly related in size and treatment of the subject.

Doris Claire Zinkeisen and her sister Anna were a duo of very talented artists. Born in Scotland the family moved to London in 1909, in 1917 Doris won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy Schools and later so did her sister Anna.

Doris became successful society portrait painter, theatrical set and costume designer, poster artist for the railways and was an official war artists in WWII, being one of the first to depict Belsen Concentration camp after its liberation in 1945.  In 1935long with her sister Anna she was commissioned to design and paint murals for the Queen Mary and later the Queen Elizabeth.

Doris Zinkeisen exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1929, at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in London and in Paris and the United States. She received Bronze (1929), Silver (1930) and Gold (1934) Paris Salon medals for her work. In 1929 she was elected a member of the Royal institute of Oil Painters (ROI).

Public collections include, The Imperial War Museum, National Portrait Gallery, National Railway Museum, London Transport Museum.