Printing Block
1927-1928 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
John Edgar Platt is a key artist in the history of twentieth-century British colour printing taking his inspiration from Japanese woodblock printing. This collection of four woodblocks for ' Red Chestnut' (E.1626-1629-2000) provide us with a picture of his working methods. The four blocks produced a single colour print (see E.341-1986 in EDUC 9D). Artists usually have to cut a separate block for each colour, but in this case where two colours are sufficiently far apart in the design, Platt has cut two colours on one side of wood. Careful positioning of the elements on the block ensured that each colour registered with the others when printed. Platt also cut on both sides of each block for economy, so effectively 8 blocks were used for this print.
In Japanese style woodblock printing the artist usually uses water-based pigment painted onto the block like a wash. Platt used flat-ended brushes of various sizes and bamboo barens (pads) for rubbing the paper over the inked block. This wash effect can be seen on these blocks and in parts of the resultant impression.
In Japanese style woodblock printing the artist usually uses water-based pigment painted onto the block like a wash. Platt used flat-ended brushes of various sizes and bamboo barens (pads) for rubbing the paper over the inked block. This wash effect can be seen on these blocks and in parts of the resultant impression.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Woodblock cut on both sides |
Brief description | Printing block. Woodblock, one of four for printing in colour. John Edgar Platt. Red Chestnut, 1927-1928.. |
Physical description | Woodblock for printing 'Red Chestnut' cut on both sides for parts of the same image (for different colours) featuring leaves and flowers and details of birds' heads and bird forms, with lines cut for image frame on one side and corner line cut on other side. |
Dimensions |
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Production type | Unique |
Marks and inscriptions | RC (in white on edge) |
Gallery label | To make Red Chestnut, Platt used both sides of four planks of wood and around 23 printings. In his method notebook, he recorded that he printed twice from this
side in a mixture of ink and crimson and blue pigments. You can see remains of the colours in the depressions. Platt cut an L-shaped notch near the lower left corner of the block to allow him to position the paper and ensure that the colours registered with each printing.(August 2019) |
Credit line | Given by Mrs Liza Axford, grand-daughter of the artist |
Object history | Gift of artist's grand-daughter. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | John Edgar Platt is a key artist in the history of twentieth-century British colour printing taking his inspiration from Japanese woodblock printing. This collection of four woodblocks for ' Red Chestnut' (E.1626-1629-2000) provide us with a picture of his working methods. The four blocks produced a single colour print (see E.341-1986 in EDUC 9D). Artists usually have to cut a separate block for each colour, but in this case where two colours are sufficiently far apart in the design, Platt has cut two colours on one side of wood. Careful positioning of the elements on the block ensured that each colour registered with the others when printed. Platt also cut on both sides of each block for economy, so effectively 8 blocks were used for this print. In Japanese style woodblock printing the artist usually uses water-based pigment painted onto the block like a wash. Platt used flat-ended brushes of various sizes and bamboo barens (pads) for rubbing the paper over the inked block. This wash effect can be seen on these blocks and in parts of the resultant impression. |
Associated objects |
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Collection | |
Accession number | E.1628-2000 |
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Record created | April 28, 2003 |
Record URL |
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