DOI Heft:
No. 223 (October 1911)
DOI Artikel:Field, T.: A note on some dry-points by William Lee Hankey
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21155#0054
Dry-Points by W. Lee Hankey
medium. Probably he is not at all anxious to be The most interesting part of some artists' work is
found already in a groove; but the characteristic to be found in their sketch-books. This is not
plate so far is undoubtedly Saint- Valery-sur-Somme. so perhaps with Mr. Lee Hankey ; but there are
The character of some artists' etched lines rests always effects in nature which from the beauty of
with their tentativeness and the reliance upon the their duration, or some equally good reason, are
arts of suggestion ; with Mr. Lee Hankey, definite- generally to be found in sketch-books ; where they
ness of contour is a characteristic, and a charac- grow fainter in spite of careful protection. It is
teristic that makes for decorativeness. This use of just these first impressions that an etching or dry-
" BOULOGNE HARBOUR" BY W. LEE HANKEY
the outline is instinctive with him, and he seems point can preserve for us with every characteristic
to have the art of alluding to contour even where of the artist's touch. Etching is very often best
it is in reality lost to the eye. Of course the where it is least deliberative, so dependent is its
whole theory of etching rests entirely upon line; character upon the autographic feature of the line,
darknesses even implying a multiplicity of lines to Such a plate as Mr. Hankey's Saint-Valery-sur-
produce the effect. It is from this point of view Somme goes a long way beyond anything that corre-
that the inked plate is not everywhere held in sponds to a sketch, but his Boulogne Harbour has
favour; yet the underlying work with the needle that correspondence. We are grateful to the artist
or graver has, in a good plate, a vitality which is for the evidence that he appreciates a>nd reconciles
not impaired by the wash that covers it, whilst in in his plates various capacities in which the needle
the case of large plates the autographic character can be employed but which are so seldom employed
of the line work is- by this means conserved. together. T. Field.
32
medium. Probably he is not at all anxious to be The most interesting part of some artists' work is
found already in a groove; but the characteristic to be found in their sketch-books. This is not
plate so far is undoubtedly Saint- Valery-sur-Somme. so perhaps with Mr. Lee Hankey ; but there are
The character of some artists' etched lines rests always effects in nature which from the beauty of
with their tentativeness and the reliance upon the their duration, or some equally good reason, are
arts of suggestion ; with Mr. Lee Hankey, definite- generally to be found in sketch-books ; where they
ness of contour is a characteristic, and a charac- grow fainter in spite of careful protection. It is
teristic that makes for decorativeness. This use of just these first impressions that an etching or dry-
" BOULOGNE HARBOUR" BY W. LEE HANKEY
the outline is instinctive with him, and he seems point can preserve for us with every characteristic
to have the art of alluding to contour even where of the artist's touch. Etching is very often best
it is in reality lost to the eye. Of course the where it is least deliberative, so dependent is its
whole theory of etching rests entirely upon line; character upon the autographic feature of the line,
darknesses even implying a multiplicity of lines to Such a plate as Mr. Hankey's Saint-Valery-sur-
produce the effect. It is from this point of view Somme goes a long way beyond anything that corre-
that the inked plate is not everywhere held in sponds to a sketch, but his Boulogne Harbour has
favour; yet the underlying work with the needle that correspondence. We are grateful to the artist
or graver has, in a good plate, a vitality which is for the evidence that he appreciates a>nd reconciles
not impaired by the wash that covers it, whilst in in his plates various capacities in which the needle
the case of large plates the autographic character can be employed but which are so seldom employed
of the line work is- by this means conserved. together. T. Field.
32