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The Lord of the tower looked out and saw a damsel, a dwarf and a knight armed at all points

Book Illustration
1982 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This linoprint belongs to a series of illustrations that accompany The Chronicles of King Arthur. Its graphic feel comes from Edward Bawden's design training and the special qualities of linoprinting. Being rather soft and crumbly it cannot produce fine lines and works best with bold and uncluttered designs. Taught by graphic designer Paul Nash, Bawden began his career when the boundaries between fine and applied art and design were becoming blurred. This is shown by Bawden's varied career as fine artist, graphic designer and designer of ceramics and wallpaper.

Bawden also approached book illustration as a designer. He said: 'the illustrator was not just a watercolour painter handing in his work to the printer and letting him get on with it, instead he considered himself a designer, a member of a team responsible for producing a book in which type and decorations harmonized'. He illustrated many books during a long career and also worked for the Curwen Press in the 1920s and 1930s designing wallpaper and borders.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Lord of the tower looked out and saw a damsel, a dwarf and a knight armed at all points (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Linoprint on Japanese Hosho paper
Brief description
Linoprint illustration by Edward Bawden, for Thomas Malory The Chronicles of King Arthur, published by the Folio Society, 1982
Physical description
Monochrome print depicting a dwarf , a knight and a damsel approaching a castle moat on horseback. A knight watches from a window in the tower.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 26.5cm
  • Maximum, image width: 20cm
  • Sheet height: 34cm
  • Sheet width: 49.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
The lord of the tower looked out and saw a damsel, a dwarf and a knight armed at all points 2/50 Edward / Bawden (below image; pencil)
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceThe Chronicles of King Arthur
Summary
This linoprint belongs to a series of illustrations that accompany The Chronicles of King Arthur. Its graphic feel comes from Edward Bawden's design training and the special qualities of linoprinting. Being rather soft and crumbly it cannot produce fine lines and works best with bold and uncluttered designs. Taught by graphic designer Paul Nash, Bawden began his career when the boundaries between fine and applied art and design were becoming blurred. This is shown by Bawden's varied career as fine artist, graphic designer and designer of ceramics and wallpaper.

Bawden also approached book illustration as a designer. He said: 'the illustrator was not just a watercolour painter handing in his work to the printer and letting him get on with it, instead he considered himself a designer, a member of a team responsible for producing a book in which type and decorations harmonized'. He illustrated many books during a long career and also worked for the Curwen Press in the 1920s and 1930s designing wallpaper and borders.
Bibliographic references
  • Malory, Thomas. The Chronicles of King Arthur. London, Folio Society, 1982.
  • Malory, Thomas. The Chronicles of King Arthur. 1982.
Collection
Accession number
E.430-1982

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Record createdJanuary 8, 2004
Record URL
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