This is a fine, early etching by the celebrated Scottish artist, William Wilson (1905 - 1972).
It is a very early work by the artist - done when he was only 22 years old, It is signed and dated in pencil.
It is a much sought-after work of the Etching Revival. In the late 19th century / early 20th century printmaking in Britain began to be considered more of a fine art - rather than a purely illustrative medium. In Scotland, DY Cameron, James McBey and Muirhead Bone were at the forefront of the printmaking revival and started a mania for people collecting etchings as quality works of art. Printmaking in Scotland flourished.
Willie Wilson was born in Edinburgh in 1905 and first served an apprenticeship in the art of stained glass - his stained glass works are just as amazing as his fine etchings. In 1937 he opened his own stained glass studio, but throughout his life, he worked in three different mediums - etching, watercolour painting and stained glass - excelling at each.
From the mid-1920s Wilson travelled extensively to the continent. Later trips to Germany in 1928 resulted in these two accomplished works on offer in my Iconic Edinburgh Online Store. Wilson’s main influence was art from Northern Europe, in particular, the work of Durer and Breughel. Wilson loved to fill his prints with minute detail and often covered his copperplate right up to the margins.
Wilson's work in etching dates between 1925 and late 1940 - and is amongst some of the finest works by any Etching Revival artist. He excels in draughtsmanship (as can be seen in this composition) and his etchings are infused with atmosphere and textures with his fine use of dark tones.
Sadly, Wilson began to lose his sight in the 1950s and his work in watercolour and etching came to an abrupt end.
This is another rare early work by Wilson - and it reveals very much the influence of DY Cameron on his etchings. The print shows the facade of the church at Saint Ayoul in Provins, France (just outside of Paris). Again, Wilson has taken great delight in depicting all the angles of the Gothic architecture and the etching is certainly full of atmosphere and shows off the great skill of the artist.
This is a genuine early work as issued by Wilson in the 1920s - it is pencil signed and dated 1927 in the margins below. The image measures: 18 x 17 cm. Frame size is 42 x 32 cm (1.3 cm in depth).
It is in excellent condition - with no issues, The etching has a clean mount and is framed.
This print is of museum quality. There is a related pencil study in the collection of the National Gallery of Scotland.