William Strang, “Potato Lifting”, 1882

William Strang (1859–1921)

“Potato Lifting”, 1882, published in London in 1882 by Seeley & Co as an original etching to Philip Gilbert Hamerton’s “The Portfolio”— one of the most important art periodicals during the Etching Revival.

Etching with plate tone printed in a dark umber ink on cream laid paper (watermarked The Portfolio) with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 34.5 x 24.2 cm (plate); 25 x 17.5 cm; (image borderline) 23 x 16 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (lower right corner) “W. Strang”.

State iii (of iii) published state.

David Strang 12 (David Strang 1962, “William Strang: Catalogue of his Etching and Engravings”, Glasgow, University of Glasgow, p. 2, cat. no. 12).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Two women in the foreground, lifting baskets of potatoes from a cart. Other workers in the background to right; final state; illustration to 'The Portfolio', October 1882. 1882/ Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1931-0511-27 [inv. 1931,0511.27]).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed (near faultless) impression in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or signs of handling.

I am selling this very powerful etching of barefoot female farm workers that, to my eyes, is an iconic image of the physically demanding work required of women farm labourers in the 19^th century—note the juxtaposition of these tolling women beside the man in the distance straightening his back while resting on a fork—for AU$207 (equivalent to approximately US$131.29, EUR 125.93, or GBP 104.31 at the time of listing) and includes Express Mail Service (EMS) postage and handling to any worldwide destination. Please note that any import duties or taxes levied by the destination country are the responsibility of the buyer and are not included in the purchase price. Payment is requested in Australian dollars (AU$207).

If you are interested in purchasing this pictorially arresting and memorable etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold