PROVENANCE
Private Collection

LITERATURE
Stephen Coppel, Linocuts of the Machine Age, 1995, reproduced page 39, plate 26 and page 145, catalogue #LT 64

EXHIBITED
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Exhibition of Modern Lino-cuts, March 30 - April 19, 1939, same image, catalogue #135

Iain MacNab opened The Grosvenor School of Modern Art in 1925 at 33 Warwick Square. Claude Flight, who had recently completed a publication on the process of linocut printmaking, was invited to instruct at the newly formed school. Cyril Power, a respected architect, joined the faculty shortly after as a lecturer and Sybil Andrews was hired as the school secretary.

Lill Tschudi, a talented Swiss artist, enrolled in the Grosvenor School of Modern Art in 1929 at the age of 18. Encouraged by Flight, Tschudi took up the linocut technique, which became her preferred medium. Eventually, through revenue from the sales of her prints, Tschudi left London to further her schooling at the Academie André Lhote in Paris. Tschudi studied life drawing with the Cubist painter Lhote, which perhaps was the inspiration for this work. Tschudi maintained a close relationship with Flight and continued to exhibit with the Grosvenor School group and contribute to the annual exhibitions of British linocuts.

In a letter dated 5 July, 1938, Flight commented to Tschudi about this print, “In the Life Class I think you have got away with the subject better than anyone has with this particular subject before, it is [sic] nice colour & balance & your whites are very well managed.”

Following the inaugural exhibition of British linocuts in 1929 at the Redfern Gallery in London, the 1930s were the most productive and important period for the Grosvenor School artists. Tschudi produced 65 linocuts in the period between 1930 and 1939. This exceptional example of her mature work, dated 1938, is rare to the market and has only been available at public auction twice in the past decade.

Please note: this work is archivally matted but is unframed.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars

Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information posted, errors and omissions may occur. All bids are subject to our Terms and Conditions of Business. Bidders must ensure they have satisfied themselves with the condition of the Lot prior to bidding. Condition reports are available upon request.