This is another fabulous vintage etching by the master printmaker Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe (1901 - 1979) that I have in my online store.
It is signed in pencil, lower right. It also has a low edition number which is annotated in the lower left margin, as photographed.
It dates to 1928. It is printed on fine paper, a lovely crisp impression. The ink is rich and sooty - with velvety dark tones as you will find in early impressions from the etching plate - before there was any noticeable denigration or wear to the copperplate that you might find in later pulls.
It is sold in excellent clean condition - with no issues. All framed and ready to hang on your wall. The sheet is without issue and has not been laid down in the past. We have a new acid-free window mount on the artwork.
The subject is very much a favourite one for Tunnicliffe - that of man harvesting and working in the fields. He is best known for his amazing representations of British wildlife - but he did also produce a series of etchings showing vanishing ways of life in rural Britain. This beautiful image shows three farm workers piling a huge bundle of newly cut hay onto an open cart and to be pulled back to the barn by the heavy horse. It is certainly quite a large bundle and the horse will have to rely on his strength to pull such a mighty load. Tunnicliffe seems to be fascinate with the harness the horse is wearing. All the details are so carefully and beautifully rendered. I love the addition of the two little workers in the distance piling up hay to form a rick.
An amazing and currently much under-rated British Etching Revival Printmaker.
Image size (to the platemark is) 17.5 x 22.5 cm. The frame measures: 42 x 44 cm. It is in lovely condition and is a lower edition number (46) from only 75 impressions produced in 1928.
This is a harder-to-find original signed etching by Tunnicliffe. His views of country trades and rural customs are now much sought after.
It is for UK posting (framed). I would possibly send it outside the UK if unframed. The UK postage would be with Parcelforce48 - this would be tracked and recorded. I would take out extra insurance for it in transit to you.
SHORT BIOGRAPHY: C.F. Tunnicliffe was born in 1901 in Cheshire. He was the son of a farmer. He spent his early years living on the farm at Sutton, where he saw much wildlife. In 1916 he started his artistic studies at the Macclesfield School of Art.
In 1920 he won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Art in London. He would work in a variety of mediums but is best know for his fine etchings and illustrations of native British birds and fauna. He depicted these always with great attention to detail. He also unusually for the time - showed them in their natural habitat.
In 1947 he moved to a house called "Shorelands" on the estuary of the Afon Cefni at Anglesey. He lived here until his death in 1979.
He is perhaps best known for his illustrations for the 1932 edition of Tarka the Otter. He also was commissioned to produce numerous designs for Brooke Bond tea cards (popular collector's items in Britain in the postwar period). He also illustrated a number of books, including the famous Ladybird Books.
He was elected a Royal Academician in 1954.
At his death, much of his personal collection of work was bequeathed to Anglesey Council on the condition that it was housed together and made available for public viewing. This body of work can now be seen at Oriel Ynys Mon (The Anglesey Gallery) near Llangefni.