This is a very sweet and rather delightful colour etching & aquatint by Winifred Austen (1876-1964). It is such a pretty work by her. The background is a subtle beige shade with thin branches (rather like you might find in Japanese woodcuts) filling up the sheet. The beige colour in "real life" is slightly paler than suggested in my images and all the shades are not so yellow in tone. The tree is enlivened by the addition of little white blossoms and all the little cheeky finch-like birds basking in the springtime sun.
Austen was born in Ramsgate, but her family later moved to London where she studied at the London County Council School of Arts and Crafts, under the animal painter, Cuthbert Swan.
She first exhibited a painting at the Royal Academy in 1899. During her career she would exhibit more than 70 paintings at the RA, right up until 1961. Winifred Austen is best known for her skillful depiction of small birds and animals. The celebrated naturalist and ornithologist, Sir Peter Scott, described her as “the best bird-etcher” of the 20th century..
Austen was elected to the Society of Women Artists (1902), the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (1907) and the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1933.
This etching has the artist's pencil signature, bottom right and is inscribed in pencil with the title "Little Lovelies". The print shows a gathering of cute little British birds perched in a branch with white springtime blossoms.
This artwork is in good condition and displays well. The colours are all nice and fresh with no fading. It will look so lovely on display in a country cottage. Any white marks on my images here are not on the print - but are just reflections from the glass when I was photographing the artwork.
It is sold in a wooden frame with a new acid-free window mount. It is ready to go on display on your wall.
Dimensions: The frame is 35 x 42 cm. The image size is 17.2 x 25.3 cm.
UK Postage will be with Parcelforce24. This will be applied to your order at the checkout.