The Shelter Drawings 1940 - 1941

1 April to 25 October 2026

Sheep Field Barn

Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire

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A drawing of four adults and a small child huddled together under blankets. The figures are primarily drawn in white and yellow chalk, with some orange and red highlights, and are surrounded by darkness.

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Drawing by Henry Moore in black and white with yellow highlights, showing a tunnel lined with rows of people lying down or sleeping.

Painting by Henry Moore in black and dark purple, showing a tunnel lined with rows of seated or sleeping people.

Two sketches of a person sleeping with their arms raised behind their head. It has been made using pencil, black pen, and blue and yellow watercolour wash.

Black and white photo of British artist Henry Moore stood on a London Underground platform, with rows of people taking shelter from the Blitz.

About the exhibition

Created during the Second World War, Moore’s Shelter Drawings are among the most powerful and widely recognised works of his career.

Commissioned by the War Artists Advisory Committee, this evocative body of work shows Londoners sheltering in the London Underground during the Blitz (1940-41). The drawings were among the first works that Moore made after he moved to Perry Green, Hertfordshire, from the capital.

Developed over a relatively short but exceptionally intense period, from 1940 to the summer of 1941, this concentrated burst of activity resulted in more than 300 drawings, 30 of which are on display in this exhibition, accompanied by material from the Henry Moore Archive.

Produced while Moore observed Londoners taking refuge in Underground stations during the Blitz, the drawings capture moments of collective vulnerability, endurance, and quiet solidarity. They played a crucial role in establishing Moore’s national and international reputation, and remain central to understanding his artistic response to conflict and humanity.

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What’s on

Find out more about what you can see and do this season at Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire.

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The Art and Life of Henry Moore

A black and white photo showing an older man in shirt and tie working with a mallet and chisel to carve a sculpture from a large piece of wood.

The Art and Life of Henry Moore

This exhibition in the newly-opened Sheep Field Barn Gallery presents over eighty sculptures made between 1922 and 1986, alongside photographs and archival materials from the Henry Moore Foundation Collections.

Henry Moore: Shelter Drawings

Our special display for 2026 focuses on Moore’s Shelter Drawings. Created during the Second World War, they are among the most powerful and widely recognised works of Moore’s career.