DOI Artikel:
Field, T.: A note on some dry-points by William Lee Hankey
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43448#0046
Dry-Points by IP. Lee Hankey
medium. Probably he is not at all anxious to be
found already in a groove; but the characteristic
plate so far is undoubtedly Saint- Valery-siir-Somme.
The character of some artists’ etched lines rests
with their tentativeness and the reliance upon the
arts of suggestion ; with Mr. Lee Hankey, definite-
ness of contour is a characteristic, and a charac-
teristic that makes for decorativeness. This use of
The most interesting part of some artists’ work is
to be found in their sketch-books. This is not
so perhaps with Mr. Lee Hankey; but there are
always effects in nature which from the beauty of
their duration, or some equally good reason, are
generally to be found in sketch-books ; where they
grow fainter in spite of careful protection. It is
just these first impressions that an etching or dry-
“ BOULOGNE HARBOUR ”
BY W. LEE HANKEY
the outline is instinctive with him, and he seems
to have the art of alluding to contour even where
it is in reality lost to the eye. Of course the
whole theory of etching rests entirely upon line;
darknesses even implying a multiplicity of lines to
produce the effect. It is from this point of view
that the inked plate is not everywhere held in
favour; yet the underlying work with the needle
or graver has, in a good plate, a vitality which is
not impaired by the wash that covers it, whilst in
the case of large plates the autographic character
of the line work is- by this means conserved.
32
point can preserve for us with every characteristic
of the artist’s touch. Etching is very often best
where it is least deliberative, so dependent is its
character upon the autographic feature of the line.
Such a plate as Mr. Hankey’s Saint- Valery-sur-
Somme goes a long way beyond anything that corre-
sponds to a sketch, but his Boulogne Harbour has
that correspondence. We are grateful to the artist
for the evidence that he appreciates and reconciles
in his plates various capacities in which the needle
can be employed but which are so seldom employed
together. T. Field.
medium. Probably he is not at all anxious to be
found already in a groove; but the characteristic
plate so far is undoubtedly Saint- Valery-siir-Somme.
The character of some artists’ etched lines rests
with their tentativeness and the reliance upon the
arts of suggestion ; with Mr. Lee Hankey, definite-
ness of contour is a characteristic, and a charac-
teristic that makes for decorativeness. This use of
The most interesting part of some artists’ work is
to be found in their sketch-books. This is not
so perhaps with Mr. Lee Hankey; but there are
always effects in nature which from the beauty of
their duration, or some equally good reason, are
generally to be found in sketch-books ; where they
grow fainter in spite of careful protection. It is
just these first impressions that an etching or dry-
“ BOULOGNE HARBOUR ”
BY W. LEE HANKEY
the outline is instinctive with him, and he seems
to have the art of alluding to contour even where
it is in reality lost to the eye. Of course the
whole theory of etching rests entirely upon line;
darknesses even implying a multiplicity of lines to
produce the effect. It is from this point of view
that the inked plate is not everywhere held in
favour; yet the underlying work with the needle
or graver has, in a good plate, a vitality which is
not impaired by the wash that covers it, whilst in
the case of large plates the autographic character
of the line work is- by this means conserved.
32
point can preserve for us with every characteristic
of the artist’s touch. Etching is very often best
where it is least deliberative, so dependent is its
character upon the autographic feature of the line.
Such a plate as Mr. Hankey’s Saint- Valery-sur-
Somme goes a long way beyond anything that corre-
sponds to a sketch, but his Boulogne Harbour has
that correspondence. We are grateful to the artist
for the evidence that he appreciates and reconciles
in his plates various capacities in which the needle
can be employed but which are so seldom employed
together. T. Field.