Artwork
Fidelma and Eoin No.2
Fidelma and Eoin No.2 is a print by Leon Kossoff. It dates from 1998 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Fidelma and Eoin No.
About this work
Leon Kossoff made this etching in 1988–9. It shows his usual focus: people and city life. The print is small but full of quick, scratchy lines.
Kossoff worked his plates over and over. He kept changing the design even after prints were done. He also made etchings after Old Master paintings to study their lines.
Look up another artist who loved deep shadows and dark tones like Kossoff.
Overview
Fidelma and Eoin No.2 is an etching created by British artist Leon Kossoff between 1988 and 1989. Characteristic of his focus on figurative subjects and urban life, this small-scale print conveys intimacy through its expressive, scratchy lines.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a tender moment between Fidelma, Kossoff's long-serving model, and her infant son Eoin. The work's intimacy suggests a personal connection, capturing a quiet, everyday scene.
Technique & Style
Kossoff's etching technique is marked by rapid, scratchy lines, indicative of his exploratory approach to 'line' in printmaking. His process often involved reworking plates extensively, even after initial prints were made, in pursuit of perfection.
History & Provenance
Created in 1988-1989, this etching was developed in collaboration with artist Ann Dowker for initial proofs, with later proofs printed and editioned by Marc Balakjian of Studio Prints.
Context
Kossoff's printmaking, like that of contemporaries Frank Auerbach and Lucian Freud, emphasized draughtsmanship. His method of stripping colour from Old Masters' compositions to understand their underlying structure informs his approach to line and form.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of 'Fidelma and Eoin No.2' are not highlighted, Kossoff's overall body of work, including his etchings, contributes to the development of late 20th-century British figurative art, emphasizing the expressive potential of line and the personal in everyday subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Leon Kossoff (10 December 1926 – 4 July 2019) was a British figurative painter known for portraits, life drawings and cityscapes of London, England.
