Cora J. Gordon: Sennen Cove and "The Apple" 1920

This July we visited the lovely small town of Sennen Cove in Cornwall. You can look down on the village from a ridge at the top of the hill, a view painted by Jan Gordon in his "Small Coast Town."

I have a copy of the first volume of "The Apple (of Beauty and Discord)" and on the fourth page can be found a reproduction of a woodcut by Cora Gordon showing part of the town of Sennen Cove.

Cora Gordon woodcut of Sennen Cove in "The Apple (of Beauty and Discord)"

The woodcut shows the closely spaced stone houses and the breakwater made of granite blocks. The Roundhouse can also be seen. The view is very similar today. We clambered over the breakwater and explored some of the rock pools.


This is the Sennen Cove breakwater seen in Cora Gordon's woodcut, here shown with two of the grandchildren of Jan Gordon's godson.

"The Apple" was a very short-lived publication with only two volumes issued, in 1920 and 1921. The title refers to the Golden Apple of Discord in Greek mythology.

Title page of the first volume.


The magazine, "A Volume devoted to Art and Letters", contained a very interesting mixture of poems, essays and writings on Art together with reproductions of diverse art works, mainly by the Modern Artists of the day.



The magazine had a very interesting blend of art works and writings.


As with Jan Gordon's "Small Coast Town" painting, recognition in the present of Cora J. Gordon's depiction of the place is a very satisfying experience. Getting on for a century has passed since she made the picture.







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