Artwork
The Big Tache
The Big Tache 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 by East London Printmakers, *The Big Tache* is a black-and-white etching that presents an abstracted facial form viewed from below. The composition emphasizes texture over realism, with dense, irregular marks dominating the lower half and lighter, fragmented lines rising upward. The work is signed, dated, and numbered by the artist, affirming its status as a limited edition print.
Subject & Meaning
The title, referencing the French word for 'stain' or 'blot,' suggests an emphasis on materiality rather than portraiture. The tangled, hair-like strokes emerging from the upper lip evoke bodily presence without clear identification. The image resists literal interpretation, instead inviting attention to the physicality of ink and the spontaneity of mark-making as expressive acts.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching, the print uses acid to carve lines into a metal plate, allowing ink to be transferred onto paper under pressure. The artist employed loose, gestural lines and contrasting tonal zones—dark, saturated forms at the base fading into airy, sketchy marks above. This interplay of density and openness creates a sense of depth and motion within a flat plane.
History & Provenance
Produced by East London Printmakers, a collective known for collaborative and experimental printmaking, the work reflects the group’s interest in process-driven art. As a numbered edition, it was likely made in a small run, preserving the handmade quality of each impression. Its documentation includes the artist’s signature and date, typical of studio print practices.
Context
Emerging from a tradition of British printmaking that values spontaneity and material experimentation, *The Big Tache* aligns with postwar tendencies to prioritize gesture and texture over representation. Its abstracted form and focus on ink’s physical behavior echo influences from Abstract Expressionism and European tachisme, adapted through a distinctly local, collaborative lens.
Legacy
The work contributes to a broader dialogue around printmaking as a medium for non-representational expression. While not widely exhibited, it remains a representative example of East London Printmakers’ commitment to tactile, process-based art. Its presence in institutional collections, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, underscores its role in documenting contemporary print practices.
Artist & collection
Artist
This group makes contemporary prints that tell everyday stories with sharp, colorful lines.
