Artwork
The Rape of the Sabines No.2
The Rape of the Sabines No.2 is a print by Leon Kossoff. It dates from 1998 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Rape of the Sabines No.
About this work
Leon Kossoff made this etching in 1998. He took ideas from Old Master paintings and turned them into prints. His goal was to study line, not just copy colors.
Kossoff kept reworking the print, even after it was done. That’s why many proofs survive. He wanted the lines to feel just right.
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Overview
The Rape of the Sabines No.2 is a 1998 etching by British artist Leon Kossoff, part of a series inspired by Old Master paintings. This work explores the expressive potential of line, stripping away color to delve into compositional essence.
Subject & Meaning
Kossoff's etching reinterprets a scene from Nicolas Poussin's original painting, 'The Rape of the Sabines'. By focusing on line, Kossoff aimed to understand the underlying structure and artistic intent behind Poussin's work, rather than merely reproducing it.
Technique & Style
Created through a collaborative process with artist Ann Dowker and printer Marc Balakjian, this etching showcases Kossoff's meticulous approach to line. Multiple surviving proof states attest to his relentless pursuit of perfection in capturing the desired expressive quality.
History & Provenance
Produced in 1998, this etching is part of Kossoff's late-career exploration of Old Master themes through printmaking. Editions were printed by Studio Prints, with earlier developmental proofs created in collaboration with Ann Dowker.
Context
Kossoff's practice of etching after Old Masters aligns with contemporaries like Frank Auerbach and Lucian Freud, who also explored printmaking as an extension of their draughtsmanship. This work reflects Kossoff's unique approach to understanding the masters through monochromatic deconstruction.
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.
