Why did Henry Moore’s abstract sculptures of the 1930s cause controversy in Britain?

In the early 1930s, Henry Moore’s abstract art was considered the height of artistic extremism in Britain, sparking intense controversy and negative press coverage.1

The primary reasons for this backlash included:

• Departure from Tradition: Moore began moving away from traditional representations of the human figure, experimenting with radical distortions and abstract shapes that challenged public expectations of sculpture.1
• Shocking Techniques: He applied "nature’s principles of form and rhythm" to his work, which involved opening up carvings with concavities and piercing holes directly through the forms. When these sculptures retained a suggestion of the human figure, the public initially found this practice to be shocking and abhorrent.1
• Artistic Nonconformity: Throughout the 1930s, Moore showed no inclination to please the public, further alienating traditionalist critics and viewers.1

The intensity of this criticism was such that Moore became a notorious figure, and he was even urged to resign from his teaching position at the Royal College of Art.1