prints 1910

In 1910 Gwen continued at the Slade after a short break, becoming friends with Stanley Spencer. At a small Friday Club exhibition (Vanessa Bell's weekly Art soiree), Gwen had her first success with her wood-engravings, selling seven. The Times critic wrote: "The little  woodcuts by Miss G Darwin, throwing back to the days of Bewick and Blake, are quite excellent."

This was the year of Roger Fry's first Post-Impressionist exhibition which had a profound effect on Gwen who considered it "a real event - of great importance to me psychologically. Gauguin is great..." Her prints Wood Nymph and Gypsies show this influence.

That summer Jacques Raverat (Gwen's future husband) played Mephistophilis in a Cambridge performance of Doctor Faustus for which Gwen did the costuumes, Ka Cox played Gluttony, Frances (Gwen's first cousin and great friend) took the part of the Evil Angel in opposition to Fredegond Shove's Good Angel.