Artwork
A Scene Between Kongshun and Ulvig
A Scene Between Kongshun and Ulvig is a print by the Romanticist artist Edward Price. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A Scene Between Kongshun and Ulvig is a mezzotint print by Edward Price, included in a bound volume of 21 illustrated plates with accompanying text.
A Scene Between Kongshun and Ulvig is a mezzotint print by Edward Price, included in a bound volume of 21 illustrated plates with accompanying text. The work was part of the Lennox-Boyd collection, a diverse assemblage of 18th- and 19th-century graphic arts and material culture. Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2015 through an inheritance tax settlement, the collection reflects the owner’s broad interest in historical prints and everyday objects of visual interest.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a quiet, isolated landscape along a river, featuring a lone figure seated on a rocky outcrop beside a dog. A distant bridge spans the water, while mist softens the contours of distant hills. The title references two unspecified locations, Kongshun and Ulvig, suggesting a journey or passage rather than a specific narrative. The scene evokes solitude and contemplation, with no overt symbolic or historical reference beyond its atmospheric tone.
Technique & Style
Executed in mezzotint, the print uses fine gradations of black and white to render texture and depth. The rocks, water, and foliage are modeled with delicate tonal transitions, creating a tactile sense of surface and volume. Soft cloud forms and hazy hills are achieved through subtle etching, while the trees and mist add rhythmic contrast. The technique emphasizes atmosphere over detail, aligning with Romantic-era landscape conventions.
History & Provenance
The print was held in the collection of David Lennox-Boyd, a noted British collector and print dealer who expanded his holdings through his business, Sanders of Oxford. After his death, the collection—comprising prints, frames, footwear, fans, and watercolors—was transferred to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2015 under a UK inheritance tax arrangement, ensuring its preservation as part of the national heritage.
Context
Created during a period when topographical and picturesque landscapes were popular in British print culture, this work reflects the era’s fascination with natural scenery and travel. Though not tied to a specific event or literary source, its inclusion in a bound volume suggests it was intended for private contemplation rather than public display. The pairing of image and text in the volume aligns with 19th-century illustrated travel literature.
Legacy
As part of the Lennox-Boyd collection, the print contributes to a broader understanding of how private collectors shaped the preservation of graphic arts in Britain. Its presence in the Victoria and Albert Museum ensures continued access for study and exhibition, offering insight into the aesthetic preferences and collecting habits of a 20th-century connoisseur with an eye for both fine prints and everyday ephemera.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
