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San Gimignano

Print
1997 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In wood engraving, a design is drawn onto the surface of a block of polished hard wood such as box. Fine tools are used to remove those parts of the design that are to print white leaving behind a tracery of lines and shapes in relief. These are inked with a sticky ink, stiff enough to prevent it from falling into the hollows and an impression is taken using hand pressure or a press.

Paynter is drawn to noble structures, whether natural or man-made. She recalls how she had to create an artificial viewpoint in order to capture the essence of San Gimignano and its many towers. Paynter's work shows impeccable technique and an exceptional creative range. It features dramatic landscapes, coastlines and buildings rich in heritage as well as gentler pastoral scenes. It includes more personal observations within her home and of her children, private and intimate commissions for bookplates and Christmas cards, and illustrations for private press. Perhaps her greatest contribution to the medium is represented by her social and political commentaries and works that address psychological issues related to daily life. Paynter became Secretary and later Chair of the reformed Society of Wood Engravers in the 1980s and has been instrumental in the resurgence of wood engraving as a medium. In 2006, she became President of the Society of Painter-Printmakers in recognition of her outstanding contribution to printmaking.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleSan Gimignano (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
paper
Brief description
Wood engraving, San Gimignano, Hilary Paynter, 1997
Physical description
Wood engraving, inscribed with edition number, title and signature in pencil.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 17.5cm
  • Image width: 25cm
Copy number
87/150
Marks and inscriptions
'87/150, San Gimignano, Hilary Paynter'
Summary
In wood engraving, a design is drawn onto the surface of a block of polished hard wood such as box. Fine tools are used to remove those parts of the design that are to print white leaving behind a tracery of lines and shapes in relief. These are inked with a sticky ink, stiff enough to prevent it from falling into the hollows and an impression is taken using hand pressure or a press.

Paynter is drawn to noble structures, whether natural or man-made. She recalls how she had to create an artificial viewpoint in order to capture the essence of San Gimignano and its many towers. Paynter's work shows impeccable technique and an exceptional creative range. It features dramatic landscapes, coastlines and buildings rich in heritage as well as gentler pastoral scenes. It includes more personal observations within her home and of her children, private and intimate commissions for bookplates and Christmas cards, and illustrations for private press. Perhaps her greatest contribution to the medium is represented by her social and political commentaries and works that address psychological issues related to daily life. Paynter became Secretary and later Chair of the reformed Society of Wood Engravers in the 1980s and has been instrumental in the resurgence of wood engraving as a medium. In 2006, she became President of the Society of Painter-Printmakers in recognition of her outstanding contribution to printmaking.
Bibliographic reference
Paynter, Hilary, Full Circle: Hilary Paynter, Wood Engravings, Woodend Publishing, 2010, pgs 62-3, cat 16.
Collection
Accession number
E.989-2019

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Record createdNovember 12, 2019
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