Artwork
Almond Trees (Freud's Garden) 1939
Almond Trees (Freud's Garden) 1939 is a print by Frances Murray. It dates from 2011 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Almond Trees (Freud's Garden) is a 1939 print produced by East London Printmakers, a collective founded in 1998.
About this work
Overview
The piece was included in one of these limited editions, serving as both a record of the group’s evolving practice and a fundraising tool for its activities.
Almond Trees (Freud's Garden) is a 1939 print produced by East London Printmakers, a collective founded in 1998. Though the date appears anachronistic, the work is part of a later annual series called the ELP Box, which compiles small-format prints by current members. The piece was included in one of these limited editions, serving as both a record of the group’s evolving practice and a fundraising tool for its activities.
Subject & Meaning
The title references almond trees in the garden of Sigmund Freud, evoking themes of memory, growth, and psychoanalytic symbolism. The image likely interprets this botanical setting through a quiet, observational lens, aligning with the collective’s interest in everyday landscapes. The choice of subject suggests a contemplative engagement with place and history, filtered through the artist’s personal response rather than literal representation.
Technique & Style
The print is executed in a small 30 x 30cm format, typical of the ELP Box series. It employs traditional printmaking methods such as relief or intaglio, emphasizing texture and tonal subtlety over bold color. The style is restrained, favoring precise line work and muted contrasts, reflecting the collective’s commitment to craft and the quiet aesthetics of observational art.
History & Provenance
Created as part of an annual collaborative project initiated in 1998, the print belongs to a limited edition of 40. Each set was produced to document the collective’s current members and support their professional growth. A small number of editions were donated to public archives, ensuring the work’s preservation within institutional collections, though the specific recipient of this piece remains unrecorded.
Context
East London Printmakers emerged from a broader post-1990s revival of artist-run print studios in the UK. The ELP Box series responded to the need for sustainable artist support systems, combining community practice with archival intent. By situating their work within historical references like Freud’s garden, members connected local artistic activity to wider cultural narratives without overtly political or commercial agendas.
Legacy
The ELP Box series continues to function as a living archive, preserving the work of successive generations of printmakers. Almond Trees (Freud's Garden) contributes to this legacy by embodying the collective’s ethos: collaborative production, modest scale, and a focus on process over spectacle. Its inclusion in public collections ensures its endurance as a quiet testament to community-based printmaking practices.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frances Murray is the pseudonym used by Rosemary Frances Booth, née Sutherland, a Scottish writer of children's and romance novels.
