Artwork
Bride
Bride is a print by Ivy Smith. It dates from 2011 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print by Ivy Smith is called *Bride*. It’s part of the 2011 ELP Box, a yearly set of prints by East London Printmakers.
Every year, the group makes a boxed set of small prints. They sell them to help pay for artists’ growth and donate some to places like museums.
Want to see more? Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
"Bride" is a small-format print (30 × 30 cm) created by Ivy Smith for the 2011 edition of the East London Printmakers Box. The work belongs to a limited run of forty copies that constitute an annual archival collection produced by the Hackney‑based collective.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a solitary figure in bridal attire, rendered with a quiet compositional balance that invites contemplation of ritual and identity. While the print does not include an explicit narrative, its title and visual cues suggest themes of transition and societal expectation.
Technique & Style
Executed using the printmaking methods favored by the collective—such as screen‑printing or relief processes—the work displays a restrained palette and crisp line work. The modest scale emphasizes intimacy, allowing fine details to emerge upon close viewing.
History & Provenance
The East London Printmakers (ELP) was founded in 1998 to provide studio space, equipment, and professional development for its members. Each year the group assembles a boxed set of small prints; proceeds from sales fund further artist support, and a number of copies are donated to institutions, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, which now holds a copy of "Bride."
Context
ELP’s Box project functions both as an archive of contemporary printmaking practice and as a fundraising mechanism. By limiting each edition to forty copies, the collective creates a collectible record of its members’ evolving visual concerns while fostering public access through museum acquisitions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ivy Smith was a vaudeville performer and recording artist in the United States. She used the pseudonyms Ruby Rankin and Sally Sad. She recorded "Sad and Blue" / "Third Alley Blues", "Cincinnati Southern Blues" / "Barrel…
