The Signalman
Drawing
ca. 1945 (made)
ca. 1945 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Although he trained as an actor, Rolf Brandt enjoyed drawing and making collages. In his native Germany he developed an interest in Dada and Surrealism and in Bauhaus artists such as Paul Klee. He moved to London from Hamburg in the early 1930s with his brother Bill (1904–83), who became famous as a photographer. His drawings for illustration were first published in the 1940s and he became known for his haunting, Surrealistic style and delicate line.
This drawing for a short story by Charles Dickens was one of a number made for an anthology of weird, romantic, if sometimes horrific stories published under the title Come Not Lucifer in 1945. The peculiar qualities of this image are highly individual while at the same time reflecting the horrors that had been part of many people’s lives during the Second World War.
This drawing for a short story by Charles Dickens was one of a number made for an anthology of weird, romantic, if sometimes horrific stories published under the title Come Not Lucifer in 1945. The peculiar qualities of this image are highly individual while at the same time reflecting the horrors that had been part of many people’s lives during the Second World War.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Signalman (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Graphite on white paper |
| Brief description | Drawing by Rolf Brandt, illustration to 'The Signalman' by Charles Dickens for the anthology 'Come Not Lucifer', United Kingdom, ca. 1945 |
| Physical description | The entrance to a deep tunnel, with rail tracks receding into darkness. A bearded man (lower left of picture) facing three-quarters inward into picture plane, gazing up at a headless, ghost-like figure floating out of the tunnel toward him. The ghost figure has a multi-layered left arm and his right clutches a parcel. Old paste marks in all coners on back of drawing and surface of support card. The paper is thin and may be Japanese, slightly discoloured through age and pasted to a support sheet on the upper margin. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by the artist's daughter, Susan Brandt |
| Object history | The group of drawings E.547-549-2005 came directly from the artist's family. "The Signalman", a short story by Charles Dickens was included in the Romantic anthology of 'weird' tales 'Come Not Lucifer' edited anonymously but possibly by the publisher, John Westhouse, published in 1945 with illustrations by R.A.Brandt. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | Dickens, Charles "The Signalman" in the Romantic anthology 'Come Not Lucifer' edited anonymously but possibly by the publisher, John Westhouse. With illustrations by R.A.Brandt. Published 1945 |
| Summary | Although he trained as an actor, Rolf Brandt enjoyed drawing and making collages. In his native Germany he developed an interest in Dada and Surrealism and in Bauhaus artists such as Paul Klee. He moved to London from Hamburg in the early 1930s with his brother Bill (1904–83), who became famous as a photographer. His drawings for illustration were first published in the 1940s and he became known for his haunting, Surrealistic style and delicate line. This drawing for a short story by Charles Dickens was one of a number made for an anthology of weird, romantic, if sometimes horrific stories published under the title Come Not Lucifer in 1945. The peculiar qualities of this image are highly individual while at the same time reflecting the horrors that had been part of many people’s lives during the Second World War. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.548-2005 |
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| Record created | December 17, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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