Artwork
Mousey Webster and The Birdman
Mousey Webster and The Birdman is a print by East London Printmakers. It dates from 2009 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2009, this screenprint by an artist associated with East London Printmakers presents a quiet, unsettling scene. A grey mouse rests atop a red barrel in the foreground, while a cloaked figure stands near a brick structure in the distance. The composition is formally signed, numbered, titled, and dated, affirming its status as a limited edition print rather than a unique painting.
Subject & Meaning
The image juxtaposes the small, vulnerable mouse with the enigmatic, hooded figure, suggesting themes of isolation or surveillance. The bloodstains on the figure’s clothing hint at unseen violence, while the barren trees and overcast sky amplify a mood of quiet dread. The scene resists clear narrative, inviting interpretation through atmosphere rather than explicit storytelling.
Technique & Style
Executed as a screenprint, the work employs flat planes of color—dominant reds, greys, and muted yellows—to create a stark, graphic quality. Sharp contrasts and simplified forms reduce detail, enhancing the surreal tone. The layered ink application gives texture without realism, aligning with the printmaking tradition of expressive abstraction over naturalism.
History & Provenance
The print originates from a series produced by East London Printmakers, a collective known for collaborative and socially engaged printwork in the late 2000s. Limited in edition, each copy is hand-signed and numbered by the artist, indicating intentional scarcity. Its provenance is tied to local London print studios, though specific ownership history remains undocumented in public records.
Context
Emerging from a post-industrial London art scene, the work reflects a broader interest in urban decay and marginal figures. The cloaked person and the mouse evoke overlooked lives within the city’s peripheries. The print’s aesthetic aligns with regional movements that favored psychological tension over decorative appeal, drawing from British social realism and surrealism.
Legacy
Though not widely exhibited outside regional galleries, the print contributes to the legacy of East London Printmakers’ commitment to accessible, narrative-driven printmaking. Its quiet unease has influenced emerging artists exploring urban alienation through limited-edition prints, preserving its role as a subtle, resonant artifact of early 21st-century British print culture.
Artist & collection
Artist
This group makes contemporary prints that tell everyday stories with sharp, colorful lines.
