Artwork
Woman Writing Signs with Waterfall
Woman Writing Signs with Waterfall is a print by Ken Kiff. It dates from 1999 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Woman Writing Signs with Waterfall is a print by the English artist Ken Kiff (1935–2001). Executed as a trial proof, the image was produced at Studio Prints in London and reflects the visual language that Kiff developed across both his paintings and his printmaking practice.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a solitary female figure engaged in the act of inscribing symbols, set against a stylised waterfall. The juxtaposition of a human activity with a natural element creates a quiet, almost narrative scene that invites contemplation of communication and the flow of meaning.
Technique & Style
Kiff’s printwork retains the vivid coloration and dream‑like atmosphere characteristic of his paintings. The image balances simplified landscape forms with a figure rendered in a slightly exaggerated scale, a device Kiff often employed to generate visual tension within an otherwise calm setting.
History & Provenance
This piece is a trial proof for an untitled print series produced at Studio Prints, a London workshop known for collaborating with contemporary artists. As a proof, it represents an intermediate stage in the print’s development before the final edition was struck.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ken Kiff, was an English figurative artist, who was born in Dagenham and trained at Hornsey School of Art 1955-61.
