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advertisement for the Orient Line

Print
ca. 1935 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Robert Gibbings had earlier produced fourteen wood engravings for the Orient Line, in 1923, in exchange for free passage on their cruiser to the West Indies. Throughout his life he produced commercial work alongside his book illustrations, ranging from book tokens to printers devices. He was even described by a contemporary as bringing about a revival in wood engraving for advertising through his 1920 Matineé cigarette advertisements. Following his experience of working with Eric Gill at the Golden Cockerel Press, Gibbing's work, as shown here, demonstrated their shared belief that wood engravings designed to be printed with type must have the same 'unit of texture' and be black line engravings.



Object details

Categories
Object type
Titleadvertisement for the Orient Line (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Wood-engraving, paper
Brief description
Proof of a design for an advertisement issued by the Orient Line by Robert Gibbings (1889-1958). Wood engraving, ca. 1935.
Physical description
Poster in black and white, advertising the Orient Line. It depicts a woman with a basket of fruit on her head, looking out to the horizon as a ship apporaches. It also features the phrase 'Let / him not stay / long in one place, / more or less as the / place deserveth, / but not long. / Bacon, Of Travel. 'Signed 'Robert Gibbings,' in pencil.
Dimensions
  • Height: 160mm (Note: approx, irregular)
  • Width: 133mm (Note: approx, irregular)
Marks and inscriptions
  • Robert Gibbings (Signed in pencil )
  • Let / him not stay / long in one place, / more or less as the / place deserveth, / but not long. / Bacon, of travel.
Credit line
Given by Robert Gibbings.
Subjects depicted
Association
Summary
Robert Gibbings had earlier produced fourteen wood engravings for the Orient Line, in 1923, in exchange for free passage on their cruiser to the West Indies. Throughout his life he produced commercial work alongside his book illustrations, ranging from book tokens to printers devices. He was even described by a contemporary as bringing about a revival in wood engraving for advertising through his 1920 Matineé cigarette advertisements. Following his experience of working with Eric Gill at the Golden Cockerel Press, Gibbing's work, as shown here, demonstrated their shared belief that wood engravings designed to be printed with type must have the same 'unit of texture' and be black line engravings.

Bibliographic reference
Victoria & Albert Museum Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design & Department of Paintings Accessions 1934 London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education, 1935
Collection
Accession number
E.2213-1934

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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