Artwork
Print Collection
Print Collection is a print by Edward Gordon Craig. It dates from 1925 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work titled “The Storm, King Lear” is a wood‑engraving executed on Japanese paper in 1925.
About this work
This print is part of the Print Collection by Edward Gordon Craig. It's a work from 1925, created using the medium of print.
The print is entitled 'The Storm, King Lear' and is a wood-engraving on Japon paper. Craig was introduced to woodcutting and engraving by artists James Pryde and William Nicholson.
To learn more about the techniques used in this print, look up the technique of chiaroscuro.
Overview
The work titled “The Storm, King Lear” is a wood‑engraving executed on Japanese paper in 1925. It belongs to a limited edition of 150 prints, with this particular impression numbered 103. The piece reflects Edward Gordon Craig’s engagement with printmaking during a period when he was also active in theatrical design.
Subject & Meaning
The image draws its narrative from Shakespeare’s tragedy King Lear, focusing on the tempest that mirrors the play’s emotional turbulence. By isolating the storm scene, Craig emphasizes the interplay of darkness and light, suggesting the inner chaos of the characters through the stark, atmospheric composition.
Technique & Style
Craig employed the “white‑line” wood‑engraving method, in which the incised lines remain uninked, allowing the surrounding inked surface to define the forms. This approach creates a luminous contrast on the delicate Japon paper, producing a chiaroscuro effect that heightens the dramatic tension of the scene.
History & Provenance
Born into a theatrical family, Craig first pursued acting before turning to printmaking after encouragement from artists James Pryde and William Nicholson. He produced his inaugural wood engraving in 1893 and, by the close of the 19th century, had completed nearly two hundred blocks, establishing his reputation in the medium.
Context
While Craig continued to create prints, after 1900 his primary focus shifted to stage design and direction, where he advocated minimalist sets and innovative lighting. His print work, including this 1925 engraving, reflects the same interest in stark visual contrasts and the reduction of detail that characterized his theatrical experiments.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edward Henry Gordon Craig, was an English modernist theatre practitioner; Part of the Terry family and son of the actress Ellen Terry, he worked as an actor in his youth before becoming a director and scenic designer,…
