Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks
A century of creativity: This project by The Irish Times and the Royal Irish Academy assesses Ireland’s literary and visual arts over the past century. Every week, we profile one work from each of the 100 years, starting with a well-known book from 1916
![Photo: N/A, License: N/A](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2013102.1416833875!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_300/image.jpg)
![Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1980 – In Her Own Image, by Eavan Boland Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1980 – In Her Own Image, by Eavan Boland](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2530808.1455187040!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_220/image.jpg)
Poet’s reclaiming of the reality of women’s experience was both important and thrilling
![Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1974 – Christmas Eve, by Maeve Brennan Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1974 – Christmas Eve, by Maeve Brennan](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2483266.1451738621!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_220/image.jpg)
The Dublin-born writer found fame in New York, but her best stories are set in Ireland
![Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1972 –Structure, by Michael Kane Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1972 –Structure, by Michael Kane](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2462989.1449832379!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_220/image.jpg)
This journal of ‘art and thought’ provided a ‘rampageous anti-establishment voice’
![Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1970 – Troubles, by JG Farrell Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1970 – Troubles, by JG Farrell](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2442205.1448643652!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_220/image.jpg)
The fall of the British Empire is expressed as dark comedy in this resonant novel
![Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1962 – Ár Ré Dhearóil, by Máirtín Ó Direáin Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1962 – Ár Ré Dhearóil, by Máirtín Ó Direáin](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2371340.1443788935!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_220/image.jpg)
A sense of alienation pervades the poet’s most important and powerful collection
![Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1951 – A Family, by Louis le Brocquy Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1951 – A Family, by Louis le Brocquy](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2283474.1437046949!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_220/image.jpg)
The painting, influenced by ‘Guernica’, secured his place in international modernism
![Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1945 – The Demon Lover and Other Stories, by Elizabeth Bowen Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1945 – The Demon Lover and Other Stories, by Elizabeth Bowen](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2235871.1433340742!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_220/image.jpg)
The writer used her unique imagination to devastating effect in these stories
![Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1932 – Eucharistic Congress skywriting over Dublin Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1932 – Eucharistic Congress skywriting over Dublin](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2129003.1425649066!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_220/image.jpg)
Three words written in light across the sky assured Rome of Ireland’s unchanging religiosity
![Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1929 – An tOileánach, by Tomás Ó Criomhthain Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1929 – An tOileánach, by Tomás Ó Criomhthain](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2099754.1423837037!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_220/image.jpg)
The fisherman’s account of life on Great Blasket is a milestone in Irish-language literature
![Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1924 – Eve of St Agnes window, by Harry Clarke Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1924 – Eve of St Agnes window, by Harry Clarke](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2060253.1421758451!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_220/image.jpg)
Artist’s imaginative stained glass transcends the straitened State from which it sprang
![Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1923 – Decoration, by Mainie Jellett Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks: 1923 – Decoration, by Mainie Jellett](/web/20160311232523im_/http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.2053004.1420207730!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_220/image.jpg)
A modernist take on old religious themes pointed the way to Jellett’s acceptance
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About this project
Modern Ireland in 100 Artworks is a collaboration between ‘The Irish Times’ and the Royal Irish Academy, assessing a century of Irish creativity. A panel of experts convened by the academy has chosen a single Irish artwork – book, painting, sculpture, play, poem or building – for each year from 1916 to 2015. Every Saturday Fintan O’Toole and panel members will profile one of these works in ‘The Irish Times’ and on irishtimes.com.
The Royal Irish Academy is Ireland’s leading body of experts in the sciences and humanities. The academy supports academic research and promotes awareness of how the sciences and the humanities benefit society. See also: www.ria.ie