Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Lilian Hocknell. It dates from 1925 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This is a drawing from around 1925 by Lilian Hocknell. It was made for Chilprufe Ltd, a children’s clothing company. The image was used in their catalogs to sell kids’ underwear.
Hocknell often made ads and book illustrations. Chilprufe was known for good prices and quality. Kids’ underwear was their big seller.
See more work by Hocknell at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This drawing, created circa 1925 by British illustrator Lilian Hocknell, was commissioned by the children’s clothing firm Chilprufe Ltd. The image functioned as a commercial illustration, appearing in the company’s catalogues to promote its line of children’s underwear.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a youthful figure dressed in the brand’s undergarments, emphasizing the comfort and practicality of the product. As a marketing tool, the illustration aims to reassure parents of the garment’s suitability for everyday wear.
Technique & Style
Executed in pen and ink, Hocknell’s drawing employs clean lines and modest shading to convey form without excessive detail. The style reflects the early‑twentieth‑century commercial art aesthetic, balancing clarity for reproduction with a gentle, approachable tone.
History & Provenance
Chilprufe Ltd, founded in Leicester in 1906 by John Adams Bolton, became a prominent supplier of children’s clothing, especially underwear, throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Hocknell’s work for the company formed part of a long‑standing collaboration that supplied imagery for the brand’s advertising and catalogue material.
Artist & collection
Artist
This British artist left behind a small set of drawings from the 1920s, all untitled and rendered in pencil or ink.
