Artwork
The Land Worker
The Land Worker is a print by Haydn Mackey. It dates from 1930 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Though the colors look printed, he painted them in reverse on tracing paper then flipped it onto oatmeal paper.
Haydn Mackey’s print "The Land Worker" shows a farmer at work. It’s part of his experiments with hand-colored linocuts and woodcuts around 1930. Though the colors look printed, he painted them in reverse on tracing paper then flipped it onto oatmeal paper.
His trick was hand-coloring with oil paint on the back of the proof. The paint stayed hidden until flipped. The effect tricks the eye into thinking it’s a colored print.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum for more of his proofs.
Overview
The Land Worker is a print by Haydn Mackey, a British artist known for his work in book illustration and printmaking. Created around 1930, it is a representative example of his experiments with linocuts and woodcuts.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a farmer engaged in physical labor, reflecting Mackey's interest in everyday life and work.
Technique & Style
Mackey achieved the appearance of a colored print through a unique technique: hand-coloring the image with opaque oil paint on the reverse of the transparent tracing paper, then applying it to oatmeal backing paper.
History & Provenance
The Land Worker is part of a collection of proofs showcasing Mackey's varied print work, with related examples held 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.
