Artwork
The Land Worker
The Land Worker is a print by Haydn Mackey. It dates from 1931 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print shows a farmer at work in a landscape. It’s one of Haydn Mackey’s hand-colored proofs from 1931, not a mass-produced image.
Mackey painted the colors on the back of tracing paper, then flipped it onto an oatmeal paper backing. The result looks like colored printing but was done by hand.
Look for other Mackey prints at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
The Land Worker is a hand-colored print by Haydn Mackey, created in 1931. It is a proof, not a mass-produced image, and showcases the artist's technique of achieving a colored print appearance through manual coloring.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a farmer at work in a landscape, capturing a moment of rural labor. The image conveys a sense of the artist's interest in everyday life and the natural world.
Technique & Style
Mackey achieved the colored appearance of his prints by hand-coloring the reverse of transparent tracing paper with opaque oil paint, then applying it to an oatmeal backing paper. This technique allowed him to create the illusion of multi-colored printing without the need for multiple plates.
History & Provenance
The Land Worker is part of a collection of proofs showcasing Haydn Mackey's varied print work. Other examples of his prints can be found at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
Haydn Mackey made prints in the first half of the 20th century, mixing everyday scenes with bold lettering.
