Why should I sigh when you pass by thumbnail 1
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Why should I sigh when you pass by

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

This print is part of a collection of proofs of woodcut and linocuts by Haydn Mackey which represents a varied range of the artists work including magazine and music sheet covers, posters and fine prints. Haydn Reynolds Mackey (1883-1979) was a book illustrator and printmaker whose print work consisted of strongly coloured linocuts and woodcuts. Contrary to their appearance the images were hand-coloured. To achieve the appearance of coloured printing Mackay used an interesting technique, hand colouring the image in opaque oil paint on the reverse of the transparent tracing paper on which the image was printed. He then applied the proof to an oatmeal backing paper with the painted side down. Mackay’s prints were never published on a large scale.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleWhy should I sigh when you pass by (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Linocut
Brief description
Linocut by Haydn Mackey. Proof of cover to ballad-sheet 'Why should I sigh when you pass by', published by Courtnay Ltd. London; British, 1930s.
Physical description
Cover featuring, in a square, a young woman's head and behind her a man's head. A large question mark surrounds the woman's head and leads into the design below. The main image is surrounded by patterns of crosses.
Dimensions
  • Sheet, irregular height: 45.4cm (max)
  • Sheet, irregular width: 57cm (max)
  • Image height: 29.7cm
  • Image width: 22.9cm
Style
Production typeArtist's proof
Marks and inscriptions
  • WHY SHOULD I SIGH / WHEN YOU PASS BY. (Top)
  • PRICE / 6d (Lower right)
  • BALLAD / FOXTROT / BY / JACK JUNIOR (Left side)
  • Courtnay Ltd. / LONDON (Lower left)
Subjects depicted
Summary
This print is part of a collection of proofs of woodcut and linocuts by Haydn Mackey which represents a varied range of the artists work including magazine and music sheet covers, posters and fine prints. Haydn Reynolds Mackey (1883-1979) was a book illustrator and printmaker whose print work consisted of strongly coloured linocuts and woodcuts. Contrary to their appearance the images were hand-coloured. To achieve the appearance of coloured printing Mackay used an interesting technique, hand colouring the image in opaque oil paint on the reverse of the transparent tracing paper on which the image was printed. He then applied the proof to an oatmeal backing paper with the painted side down. Mackay’s prints were never published on a large scale.
Collection
Accession number
E.183-2014

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Record createdAugust 19, 2013
Record URL
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