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Girl on Stairs

Print
1935 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Robert Sargent Austin, R.A. (1895-1973) was a printmaker, draughtsman, book illustrator and watercolorist, as well as a designer of posters. Born in Leicester, where he attended the School of Art 1909-13; he went on to study and later to teach at the Royal College of Art. He was also an official war artist in World War II. He was highly skilled draughtsman best known for his exquisite etchings and engravings, mostly of animals, birds and plants, domestic scenes, figure subjects (often religious), and also landscapes.

This is one from a gift of 50 prints - mostly etchings - which cover the whole range of Austin's subject matter. Many of the prints are annotated by Austin himself, and several are proofs, or early states. The prints are works of art in their own right, but also offer valuable evidence of Austin's working methods, and the practice of etching and engraving as a fine art practice in the 1920s and 1930s.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleGirl on Stairs (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Engraving
Brief description
Engraving by Robert Austin entitled 'Girl on Stairs'. Great Britain, 1935.
Physical description
Engraving depicting a young woman walking casually down a staircase in a plain home. She rests her head on her shoulder and looks down over the bannister wistfully. She carries a coat, slung over one shoulder, and in the other hand she holds her keys, hat, and a sprig of plant stems in front of her. The stairs and floorboards are wooden and shadows of the woman and the bannister are cast up the wall to the right.
Dimensions
  • Height: 27cm (sheet)
  • Width: 22.3cm (sheet)
Dimensions taken from departmental notes
Marks and inscriptions
RSA (Signed in plate)
Credit line
Given by Rachel Austin and Clare Calder
Subjects depicted
Summary
Robert Sargent Austin, R.A. (1895-1973) was a printmaker, draughtsman, book illustrator and watercolorist, as well as a designer of posters. Born in Leicester, where he attended the School of Art 1909-13; he went on to study and later to teach at the Royal College of Art. He was also an official war artist in World War II. He was highly skilled draughtsman best known for his exquisite etchings and engravings, mostly of animals, birds and plants, domestic scenes, figure subjects (often religious), and also landscapes.

This is one from a gift of 50 prints - mostly etchings - which cover the whole range of Austin's subject matter. Many of the prints are annotated by Austin himself, and several are proofs, or early states. The prints are works of art in their own right, but also offer valuable evidence of Austin's working methods, and the practice of etching and engraving as a fine art practice in the 1920s and 1930s.
Collection
Accession number
E.532-2007

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Record createdJuly 10, 2009
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