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The Division of the Light from the Darkness

Print
1924 (made)
Artist/Maker
Nonesuch Press (publisher)
Nash, Paul (artist)
Place of origin
London (published)

Wood-engraving 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.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Printmaking Techniques
Christianity
Religion
Object type
Print
Titles
  • The Division of the Light from the Darkness (assigned by artist)
  • Genesis (published title)
Materials and techniques
Wood-engraving
Paper
Printing Ink
Wood Engraving
Brief description
Wood-engraving. Paul Nash, The Division of the Light from the Dark from Genesis, published by Nonesuch Press, London, 1924; British.
Physical description
Wood-engraving 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: 39.8cm
  • Width: 28.6cm
Style
British School
Production typeLimited edition
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Paul Nash 1924' (Signed and dated in pencil)
  • 'Genesis Division of Light & Darkness' (Inscribed by the artist)
  • 'edition 12, set 5' (Inscribed)
Gallery label
(August 2019)
Rich in abstraction and symbolism, Nash’s Genesis book illustrations were startlingly modern for their time. Nash gradually introduced more lines into his woodblocks – moving from a few marks in ‘The Void’ to vigorous cross hatching in ‘The Sun and Moon’. The contrast between the black and white lines created the effect of light emanating from the page, reflecting the biblical story of God’s creation of the world.
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.4758-1960

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O562834/the-division-of-the-light-print-nash-paul/
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