DOI issue:
No. 331 (October 1920)
DOI article:Salaman, Malcolm C.: The etchings and dry-points of George Soper
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21401#0112
THE ETCHINGS AND DRY-POINTS OF GEORGE SOPER, R.E.
Yet this is what Mr. Soper has done, and
with notable promise of success, because his
etching is the result of a sincere artistic im-
pulse toward free linear expression upon
the copper-plate. Wisely, hejsought from
the first the best grounding he could get in
the etcher's craft, and this he got with the
true traditions from that past-master of all
the crafts of intaglio engraving, Sir Frank
Short. Soundly equipped, then, in the
matter of technique, Mr. Soper began his
adventure as etcher, and in such early
plates as Coal Wharf, Topsham, Devon, and
Pit Props for the Trenches, we see already
that, though the composition inclines a little
to " tightness," the line is not only well and
truly drawn, but bitten and printed with a
nice feeling for the tone subtleties of acid
and of ink, albeit instinct with little of that
subtle vitality and spontaneity of sugges-
tion that makes for the etcher's magic.
There is more of this in A Cornish Farm,
the'charm of which is in its sunny serenity
of expression. In Gleaning and Binding
Faggots we find Mr. Soper trying a more
open treatment, with freer and more fluent
line, and greater economy in its selection ;
but, especially in the latter plate, we still
scent the illustrator's picture-making ten-
dency rather than the etcher's spontaneous
impulse to suggest a vivid impression of a
human action momentarily seen in its
natural rhythm. But when I turn to that
beautiful little plate, Burning Twitch, I feel
that the etcher has come artistically into his
own. With true observation and sensitive,
expressive drawing, he has realised the
scene; the woman's attitude is spon-
taneous, she is actually feeling the weight of
the spade and handling it to " stoke," as it
were, the burning mass of twitch. And
how justly the figure takes its place upon
the plate, how admirably balanced the
tone \ a a e> a a a
One of Mr. Soper's attractive qualities as
etcher is his independence in choice of sub-
ject-matter ; he etches no type of subject
because others have done it with success.
97
Yet this is what Mr. Soper has done, and
with notable promise of success, because his
etching is the result of a sincere artistic im-
pulse toward free linear expression upon
the copper-plate. Wisely, hejsought from
the first the best grounding he could get in
the etcher's craft, and this he got with the
true traditions from that past-master of all
the crafts of intaglio engraving, Sir Frank
Short. Soundly equipped, then, in the
matter of technique, Mr. Soper began his
adventure as etcher, and in such early
plates as Coal Wharf, Topsham, Devon, and
Pit Props for the Trenches, we see already
that, though the composition inclines a little
to " tightness," the line is not only well and
truly drawn, but bitten and printed with a
nice feeling for the tone subtleties of acid
and of ink, albeit instinct with little of that
subtle vitality and spontaneity of sugges-
tion that makes for the etcher's magic.
There is more of this in A Cornish Farm,
the'charm of which is in its sunny serenity
of expression. In Gleaning and Binding
Faggots we find Mr. Soper trying a more
open treatment, with freer and more fluent
line, and greater economy in its selection ;
but, especially in the latter plate, we still
scent the illustrator's picture-making ten-
dency rather than the etcher's spontaneous
impulse to suggest a vivid impression of a
human action momentarily seen in its
natural rhythm. But when I turn to that
beautiful little plate, Burning Twitch, I feel
that the etcher has come artistically into his
own. With true observation and sensitive,
expressive drawing, he has realised the
scene; the woman's attitude is spon-
taneous, she is actually feeling the weight of
the spade and handling it to " stoke," as it
were, the burning mass of twitch. And
how justly the figure takes its place upon
the plate, how admirably balanced the
tone \ a a e> a a a
One of Mr. Soper's attractive qualities as
etcher is his independence in choice of sub-
ject-matter ; he etches no type of subject
because others have done it with success.
97