Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Haydn Mackey in 1910.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artwork

Untitled

Haydn Mackey , 1910

Untitled is a print by Haydn Mackey. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

He flipped the sheet over so the paint touched a plain oatmeal backing.

This print is old—made between 1910 and 1940. It’s a linocut or woodcut on tracing paper. The Victoria and Albert Museum keeps it safe.

The colors you see weren’t printed. Mackey painted them by hand after printing, on the back of the paper. He flipped the sheet over so the paint touched a plain oatmeal backing.

His prints never went big. They stayed small proofs only. Check out more by Haydn, Mackey.

Overview

This untitled print is a representative work by Haydn Mackey, a British artist active in the early 20th century. It is a hand-colored linocut or woodcut on tracing paper, mounted on oatmeal backing paper.

Technique & Style

Mackey achieved a multi-colored effect by hand-painting the print with opaque oil paint on its reverse, then adhering it to the backing paper with the painted side down. This technique created the illusion of colored printing, despite being a labor-intensive, one-off process.

History & Provenance

The print was created between 1910 and 1940 and is now held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. It is part of a group of proofs showcasing Mackey's varied printmaking output.

Context

Mackey's work as a book illustrator and printmaker was characterized by strongly colored linocuts and woodcuts, often used for magazine and music sheet covers, posters, and fine prints. His prints were not widely published during his lifetime.