U for Urchin

Category

Library Item

Item no

23666

Title

U for Urchin

Description

A young boy holds his hands in his pockets as he leans against a wall. A strong shadow is cast on the wall behind him. He is wearing light coloured trousers, a dark waistcoat and a cap.
Reproduced by kind permission of (c) Desmond Banks.

Artist / maker

Nicholson, William Newzam Prior

Date

1898

Size

24.5 x 19.5 cm

Type

Wood cut

Location

Art and Design Library

'An Alphabet', a series of woodcut prints, was executed by William Nicholson in 1897 and published in 1898. The first image in the series of alphabet illustrations is in fact, a self portrait of the artist. At the age of 25, Nicholson self-deprecatingly said he 'was an Artist'. Of the series, A and D were the pieces submitted for approval by William Heinemann. Each woodblock was valued at £5, and 6p for each of the impressions which were hand-coloured. U was originally to be Usher, and is considered by some critics to be of a lower standard than the other designs.
Along with a woodcut of Queen Victoria made in 1897, 'An Alphabet' served to establish Nicholson's public reputation as an artist. He went on, after 1900, to concentrate on portrait and landscape painting, but his work as a printmaker continues to be highly regarded.

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Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hats

Clothing and dress > Garments > Waistcoats

People > Children > Boys