Edward Burra Woodcuts

About

Edward Burra CBE, British 1905-1976 – “Woodcuts", 1928-29.

Graham Hunter Gallery is pleased to offer for sale the complete suite of nine woodcuts, printed in 1971, published by Nicholas Treadwell on laid paper with full boarders.

Provenance: Collection of the late Lionel Levy, co-founder of The Portal Gallery; with Nicholas Treadwell Gallery, Chiltern Street, London.

The prints: with, in brackets, the original title where known; Two at a Bar; Nude on a Chair –
(Fleets In); Woman with a Tray (Cupbearer); Guitar Player; Roman Remains (Souvenir); Boy with a Jug; Woman with Rose (Balcony); Clowns (Cafe) and Royal Favourites (Mary Queen of Scots).
From the edition of 45, each numbered 6/45 in pencil, "Royal Favourites" signed in pencil by the artist, the other eight signed with initials by the artist in pencil, 30.4x24.8cm and 15.3x10.2cm.

Beautifully presented, conservation mounted, in a stylish black frame under museum quality glass. Some sheets with light handling marks, and or minor spotting but nothing unexpected given their age.

The Artist; Edward Burra was a true maverick of the British art scene, born in South Kensington, London. Left preparatory school due to ill health, from which he suffered all his life.
He studied art privately, later taking life-drawing, illustration and architectural drawing at Chelsea Polytechnic (1921-1923) followed by two years at the Royal College of Art.

Burra settled in Rye, Sussex on his return from extensive travels on the continent. Early works portraying the people he met whilst travelling, were strongly influenced by the work of George Grosz.
His first solo exhibition was held at the Leicester Galleries in 1929 and he exhibited with Paul Nash and other Surrealists during the 1930s. In 1933-1934 he travelled through North America and his paintings of that period reflect the culture and scenery of America and Mexico. Besides painting, Burra also designed scenery and costumes for a number of ballets.

He declined membership of the RA in 1963 after being elected but was honoured with a CBE in 1971. Examples of his work are held in the collections of the Tate Gallery; The British Council; The Imperial War Museum; The Government Art Collection; and the Sunderland Museum and Art Gallery.

Retrospectives of his work were held at the Magdalene Sothmann Gallery, Amsterdam (1955); the Tate Gallery (1973); the Hayward Gallery (1985); Rye Art Gallery (1989).