THE FOUR SKETCHES 1951
Henry Moore (1898 – 1986)
Details
- Dimension
- 31.4 X 22.2 CM
- Media
- LITHOGRAPH
- Accession number
- P635
Summary
This was Moore's first portfolio, made up of eight full page lithographs plus capital letters and tailpieces for the text, and were made as illustrations to a translation by Andre Guide of Goethe's Prométheé. The illustrations are fairly literal interpretations of scenes from Goethe's epic and typical of Moore's figurative imagery of the time. There are parallels with his sculpture of the time, in particular the use of drapery and stylisation of the shape of the head. Moore made much use of colour in the prints and enjoyed being involved in the details of production, but unfortunately the publication was disappointing and much of the edition of 183 remained unsold.
Glossary
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Edition
All copies of a book, print, portfolio, sculpture, etc., issued or produced at one time or from a single set of type. Printed works can be made in an edition of between one and many thousands of copies. With most printing techniques the plate or screen will become worn if very many prints are made, so to maintain quality (and exclusivity) editions of original prints are usually kept below one hundred copies and normally average between thirty and fifty copies. Prints made up of several different plates can be extremely complicated and time-consuming to edition, so in these cases editions are kept low for practical reasons. Sculptural editions are a set of cast sculptures taken from the same mould or master. These editions are usually much lower, consisting of no more than six casts. Though each cast in an edition might have a lower value than a unique piece, it may be a more effective way of offsetting costs of an expensive process such as bronze casting.
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Portfolio
A set of pictures (as drawings, photographs or prints) either bound in book form or loose in a folder. These can be by the same artist or individual works by a selection of artists. The term also refers to the folder which holds the set.
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Sculpture
A three-dimensional work of art. Such works may be carved, modelled, constructed, or cast. Sculptures can also be described as assemblage, in the round, relief, and made in a huge variety of media. Contemporary practice also includes live elements, as in Gilbert & George 'Living Sculpture' as well as broadcast work, radio or sound sculpture.