Wood Engraving Wednesday
SIMON BRETT
This week we showcase two wood engravings (with one in two colors) by the incomparable English illustrator and wood engraver Simon Brett. The first two are the same engraving printed in black and mustard yellow from Claire Van Vliet’s 1976 Janus Press printing in Vermont of Thom Gunn’s poetry collection The Missed Beat, printed from the original block on Okawara paper for Anthony Baker’s Gruffyground Press in an edition of 120 copies.
The last engraving is from British poet Peter Levi’s Music of Dark Tones AMDG [Ad maiorem Dei gloriam] printed in Marlborough, Wiltshire, at Michael Mitchell’s Libanus Press for Brett’s own Paulinus Press in an edition of 200 copies signed by the poet and artist.
Simon Brett was a student of the equally incomparable wood engraver Clifford Webb. Brett taught at Marlborough College Art School from 1971-1989, operated the Paulinus Press from 1981-1988, served as chair of the now over-100-years-old Society of Wood Engravers from 1986-1992, and has written widely on the history and practice of wood-engraving. A 50-year retrospective of Brett’s wood-engravings was held at Bankside Gallery, London, Art Jericho, Oxford, and Holburne Museum, Bath, 2013-14.
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