Not on display

The Heroic Dosser

Woodcut
1987 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Howson, Peter (artist)

In 1987 Peter Howson (born 1958) worked from a studio in the Gallowgate area of Glasgow, Scotland, close to a hostel for the homeless. The Heroic Dosser (a 'dosser' is someone who lodges in a hostel) is a subject he has treated in a variety of different media: as an oil painting, a charcoal drawing, a screenprint and, as here, a woodcut. This version is one of three large woodcuts (the others are The Lonely Hero and The Noble Dosser) made at, and published by, the Glasgow Print Studio. Howson's work of the late 1980s was part of a trend towards figurative art with social and political themes. It led to him being commissioned in 1992 (as a British War Artist) to record the conflict in Bosnia.

Object details

Categories
Prints
Woodcuts
Object type
Woodcut
TitleThe Heroic Dosser (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Woodcut on two sheets of paper, joined
Paper
Ink
Wood Cutting
Brief description
Peter Howson. 'The Heroic Dosser', 1987
Physical description
Male figure against urban background
Dimensions
  • Printed surface height: 177.2cm
  • Printed surface width: 116.7cm
  • Sheets, joined height: 182.3cm
  • Sheets, joined width: 121.3cm
  • Framed height: 191cm
  • Framed width: 129cm
  • Framed depth: 4.5cm
Production typeLimited edition
Copy number
23/30
Marks and inscriptions
  • Howson '87 (Signature;date; pencil)
  • 23/30
Subject depicted
Homelessness
Summary
In 1987 Peter Howson (born 1958) worked from a studio in the Gallowgate area of Glasgow, Scotland, close to a hostel for the homeless. The Heroic Dosser (a 'dosser' is someone who lodges in a hostel) is a subject he has treated in a variety of different media: as an oil painting, a charcoal drawing, a screenprint and, as here, a woodcut. This version is one of three large woodcuts (the others are The Lonely Hero and The Noble Dosser) made at, and published by, the Glasgow Print Studio. Howson's work of the late 1980s was part of a trend towards figurative art with social and political themes. It led to him being commissioned in 1992 (as a British War Artist) to record the conflict in Bosnia.
Bibliographic references
  • Timmers, Margaret (ed), Impressions of the Twentieth Century: Fine Art Prints from the V&A's Collection, London, V&A Publications, 2001
  • Allegra Presenti, Gouge: The Modern Woodcut from 1870 to Now Los Angeles: Hammer Museum, 2008.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.970-1990

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Record createdDecember 18, 2002
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O72166/the-heroic-dosser-woodcut-howson-peter/
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