'The Willow'. A willow tree growing out across a stream. Etched steel-faced copperplate. Etched by Samuel Palmer, England, 1850. Cancelled 1926(?).

A willow tree (filling almost the entire composition) growing out over a stream, above wading cattle and a swan. Etched steel-faced copperplate, with bevelled edges, cancelled by a single vertical line through the centre of the image. In the lower-right corner, below the design, the steel-facing has been rubbed away and a small etched triangle has been added (to identify the final printing before the plate was destroyed).

Given by A. H. Palmer

75 impressions were taken from this plate, on specially chosen old paper, printed under the supervision of Sir Frank Short, R.A., P.R.E., R.I., Martin Hardie, R.I., R.E., and F. L. Griggs, A.R.A., R.E., before the cancelling of the plate.

In the first state, there is a white streak across the sky, running from the edge of the plate to the tree, 2 mm. above the cumulus cloud on the left. This is filled up in the later state. In the later state also, there are a few more lines of shading in the upper part of the sky to the right.

A. H. Palmer explained that:
'It should be noted that the tree in this etching was practically copied from a careful water-colour study made from nature, and of a much larger size. Such a proceeding was very rare in any of Palmer's work. In this case, it may have been due, partly to a feeling of timidity in a new process, or, partly to a prudent wish not to endanger his election by anything too characteristic or ambitious.'
[Taken from: Catalogue of an Exhibition of Drawings, Etchings & Woodcuts by Samuel Palmer and other Disciples of William Blake October 20 - December 31, 1926. London : Published under the authority of the Board of Education, 1926. Publication No. 178 E.I.D. p.56]

See an impression taken from this plate before it was cancelled, E.1455-1926, and an impression taken after it was cancelled, E.1457-1926.

E.1456-1926