W for Waitress

Category

Library Item

Item no

23668

Title

W for Waitress

Description

A woman wearing a long plain dark dress and white mop cap stands against a wall and holds a tray in both hands.
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. W was to be Watchman and is the only discarded design that has not been discovered.
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.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hats

People > Adults > Women

People > Commercial activities > Waiting staff

Sport and leisure > Activities > Eating and drinking

Sport and leisure > Eating and drinking facilities > Public houses