This is an artwork that we have owned for over twenty years - and we bought it from Bonhams in Edinburgh - it has hung on our living wall until recent times. Lack of wall space forces us with listing it for re-homing.
It is a quirky, untypical and very fine drypoint etching by the lady artist Doris Boulton-Maude (signed in pencil Doris Boulton which would date this work to the 1930s, before her marriage). She features in Robin Garton's book: 'British Printmakers 1855-1955'. Her works are now hard to find and are rare. There is one etching by her in the collection of the British Museum. The National Galleries of Scotland also hold a later work by her in their collection
This drypoint print by Boulton is a rare one and does not come on the market very often. It is a strange early work by her probably dating to the 1930s. It features an old gnarled tree - it has possibly been struck by lightning - and the trunk is dark and the branches devoid of leaves. It is entitled "The Dead Tree". The strange thing about it is the little imps that are seen dancing in the branches. They dance about (they look like little vampire bats to me!). There are seven naughty imps in total. There are also three other strange creatures at the lower left of the image - they are half fairy and half butterfly (they seem to be trying to blow the imps off the tree). There is also a little chubby winged cupid resting in the bough of the tree. It is an odd scene. I do like the imp dancing on the topmost brandh to the right - he reminds me a little of Bela Lugosi playing Dracula and dancing about in his cape. This might date this work to the release of Lugosi's film in 1931 and on her return home from the Middle East.
BIOGRAPHY:
Doris Boulton-Maude studied at Burslem School of Art and then at the Royal College of Art from 1916 – 1921. She was an Associate of the Royal Society of Painter / Etchers, and exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1918 – 1921. She was mentored by William Nicholson, a prominent member of the Camden Town Group, whose stylistic approach profoundly impacted her own work.
She travelled to Egypt and Palestine as part of the Pennsylvania Archaeological Expedition from 1924 – 1931; and produced many landscape prints of the countries she visited on the expedition. Boulton retuned to London and attended the Slade School of Art for a short time. She came into contact with modern art movements at the Slade and was influenced by Franz Marc and the Blaue Reiter style - this instigated her to change to relief printing methods.
She married Lionel Maude in 1937 whom she met at the Fabian Soceity Summer School. He came from a strong Socialist family, and his parents were Tolstoy’s authorised English translators and biographers. After her marriage she signed her works: Doris Boulton-Maude.
She exhibited at the New English Art Club, the Redfern Gallery, the Walker Gallery in Liverpool, the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia etc. She later lived in Great Baddow in Essex. The Chelmsford Museums held a travelling exhibition of there work in 1995 and hold works by her in their collection. Her work is also in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and at the Art Institue of Chicago.
My "Dead Tree" drypoint is in excellent condition with no damages. It has had a new mount and simple black frame prior to my listing of it here. It is certainly a fantastic artwork - and you probably wont find another one for these for sale - I havent in the last 25 years! All this is reflected in my asking price.
Dimensions: Frame size: 41 x 25.4 cm. Image size: 27.5 x 15 cm.
It will be carefully packed and sent to you with Royal Mail Tracked and Signed / Parcelforce24 for service. It will also be fully insured against loss or damage in transit to you.