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Façade

Woodcut
1914-1915 (printed)
Artist/Maker

Wadsworth (1889-1949) was a member of the Vorticists, a group of mostly London-based artists chiefly active in the period 1913-1917. Their inspiration was Italian Futurism. The Futurists, obsessed with machinery and dynamics, made pictures and sculptures characterised by semi-abstract geometric form. Wadsworth's main printmaking activity was confined largely to the period 1913-1921, in which he made about 50 woodcuts. They are recognisable for their sharp tonal contrasts and dizzying articulation of space, most striking in the black and white images. In the last year of World War One, Wadsworth's design talents were harnessed by the Royal Navy, then in need of dazzle camouflage for their warships - bold diagonal patterns and zigzag bands intended to confuse the enemy.

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view Art Deco printmakers The Art Deco design movement touched every creative medium from roughly 1910 to 1940, and prints and posters of the age were no exception. Ultimately about pleasure and modernity, the style widely reflected themes of fast-paced city life and featured bold geometric forms.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleFaçade (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Woodcut on thin laid paper
Brief description
Edward Alexander Wadsworth. 'Façade', 1914-15
Physical description
abstract composition in black and white
Dimensions
  • Printed surface height: 17.2cm
  • Printed surface width: 9.5cm
  • Sheet height: 21.3cm
  • Sheet width: 13.5cm
Style
Production typeLimited edition
Copy number
1/205
Marks and inscriptions
1/205 22 x 16 (pencil)
Summary
Wadsworth (1889-1949) was a member of the Vorticists, a group of mostly London-based artists chiefly active in the period 1913-1917. Their inspiration was Italian Futurism. The Futurists, obsessed with machinery and dynamics, made pictures and sculptures characterised by semi-abstract geometric form. Wadsworth's main printmaking activity was confined largely to the period 1913-1921, in which he made about 50 woodcuts. They are recognisable for their sharp tonal contrasts and dizzying articulation of space, most striking in the black and white images. In the last year of World War One, Wadsworth's design talents were harnessed by the Royal Navy, then in need of dazzle camouflage for their warships - bold diagonal patterns and zigzag bands intended to confuse the enemy.
Bibliographic reference
Timmers, Margaret (Ed), Impressions of the Twentieth Century: Fine Art Prints from the V&A's Collection. London, V&A Publications, 2001.
Collection
Accession number
E.448-1965

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Record createdDecember 16, 2002
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