Garwood's Wood Engravings

         Tirzah Garwood (UK, 1908-1951) was one of those artists whose work was overshadowed in the minds of art historians by the work of her artist husband.  If you want to see what I’ve shared of his work, you can revisit Eric Ravilious here.  But today let’s have a little sampling of Garwood’s wood engravings, which have a witty style all their own.

        First, here’s “The Wife,” a self portrait (made when Garwood was engaged to Ravilious) sitting up in bed beneath a picture of a house.  I like all the patterns and textures - the wallpaper!  that tablecloth! - the details of the architecture and furniture, and the young wife gazing somewhat enigmatically at the viewer.  This was part of a whole series on relationships.

        “Brick House Kitchen” is another with lots of texture, plus the added charm of a lot of cats and a large chicken.  It certainly looks like a cozy kitchen, if possibly a danger of fur and feathers in the food!  The technical skill of all those textures creating their varied effects is impressive.  I’m especially admiring the shading of the bricks at the side of the fireplace.

        For a subtle touch of the humor that marks many of Garwood’s depictions of people, notice how this baby has tossed their teddy bear overboard from the pram while the

nurse looks the other way.  How long before the loss will be noticed?  What adventures will Teddy have, perilously close to the road, before it’s reunited with the baby?

        And finally, another possible self-portrait in which the young woman looks away from the other travellers in the third class carriage, inviting us into her world despite her neutral expression.  Again, the details are masterful, from the view outside the window to the dozing men inside, and the careful depictions of clothing.  Garwood has other pieces depicting broader caricatures, or more riotous action, but I’ve chosen the ones I particularly like, which seem to be those that give me a chance to contemplate these places and people.

        Garwood and Ravilious were married for 12 years before he was lost at sea.  During that time she set aside much of her own work to help him with his - uncredited, of course.  She did get back into her own work (and eventually remarry), but she no longer did wood engraving, which I think is a real shame.  She died of cancer just shy of her 43rd birthday, so we’ll never know where her art might have gone if she’d had more time.  If you happen to find yourself south of London this weekend, you have a chance to see the first major exhibition of her work, showing at Dulwich Picture Gallery through May 26.  Alas, I won’t be there!  But it’s nice to see an excellent block printmaker with a distinctive style finally coming back into the public eye and getting her due.

[Pictures: The Wife, wood engraving by Tirzah Garwood, 1929 (Image from invaluable);

Brick House Kitchen, wood engraving by Garwood, 1932 (Image from Wikimedia Commons);

The Grandchild, wood engraving by Garwood, c. 1928-9 (Image from invaluable);

The Train Journey, wood engraving by Garwood, c. 1928-30 (Image from invaluable).]