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The Division of Light and Darkness

Print
1924 (made)
Artist/Maker
Nonesuch Press (published)
Nash, Paul (artist)

In this wood engraving Paul Nash (1889–1946) has literally represented the subject matter by dividing the block into light and dark tones and engraving the design in opposing tones, swapping light for dark as he crosses over the divide. Nash uses a combination of white and black line techniques producing a luminous image that perfectly reflects the subject matter.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Christianity
Religion
Printmaking Techniques
Object type
Print
TitleThe Division of Light and Darkness (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Wood engraving
Printing Ink
Paper
Wood-Engraving
Brief description
Wood-engraving. Paul Nash. The Division of Light and Darkness, from a series illustrating Genesis, 1924.
Physical description
Wood-engraved block depicting the division the light and the dark from Genesis, comprising a series of lines, diagonally demarcated with one half of the block lighter than the other.
Dimensions
  • Height: 23.8cm
  • Width: 18.7cm
Style
British School
Production typeLimited edition
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Paul Nash 1924' (Signed and dated in pencil, lower right)
  • Genesis / The Division of / Light & Darkness (Inscribed in pencil by the artist, lower left)
  • 'edition 12. set 5' (Inscribed in pencil by the artist, top left)
Object history
This suite of prints interpreting 'Genesis' went on loan to Pallant House in 1989 for the Paul Nash centenary exhibition
Summary
In this wood engraving Paul Nash (1889–1946) has literally represented the subject matter by dividing the block into light and dark tones and engraving the design in opposing tones, swapping light for dark as he crosses over the divide. Nash uses a combination of white and black line techniques producing a luminous image that perfectly reflects the subject matter.
Associated object
E.5180-1960 (Original)
Bibliographic reference
Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings Accessions 1960 and 1961 London: HMSO, 1964
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.4764-1960

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O562828/the-division-of-light-and-print-nash-paul/
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