Comments on: William Nicholson’s London Types

By: Kimo

Kimo — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 21:17:57 +0000

Your third sentence contends that William Nicholson’s son, Ben, “was to eclipse him [his father] completely in the history of British Art.” Perhaps Ben was a bigger celebrity. Perhaps Ben made more money. And, perhaps, Ben was more “on-trend” within his generation. But you cannot tell me that Ben was a better artist than his father—or that William’s talent withers in the shadow of Ben’s talent. I like William Nicholson’s work far more than I do his son’s. An exhibition of William Nicholson’s oil paintings at the Royal Academy (a few years ago) showed that the father’s talent with a brush was far superior to his offspring’s. William tackled more difficult subjects (realistic, three-dimensional objects, reflected light) compared to Ben (flat assortments of graphic shapes). Even the spare simplicity of William’s print works exhibit the talent of a man who had mastered his medium. Fame alone does not a great artist make.

By: Jim McDermott

Jim McDermott — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 15:46:39 +0000

I grew up in a house that had an edition of London Types (though, as Lancashire folk, none of us had ever seen the Smoke). I recall wondering what ‘adulterous’ meant. Strangely, neither my parents nor a succession of Irish great-aunts would enlighten me.

By: DONNA BARNES

DONNA BARNES — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 13:56:45 +0000

wonderful woodcuts Thanks so much for sharing them
Donna Barnes in Brooklyn, New York

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 12:16:21 +0000

Oh, marvelous! That drum major is a force of nature. Just look how the artist has captured the sheer volume of that character, and filled the frame with him. I can imagine how crowds must have totally cleared a space for this huge man in his regalia. The heavy shawl, large as a bed
spread, thrown across his shoulders — and that authoritative scepter. What do you suppose this fellow did in his daily life?
An incredible narrative BOLD series.
Loved every one.

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 11:19:25 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

GA, wonderful, lively images. Particularly enjoyed “News-boy, the City” (somehow I think he would outsell his peers) and the horse in “Policeman, Constitution Hill.”

Well said –“remarkable both for their superlative graphic elegance and as a complex and witty social portrait of London at the dawn of the twentieth century.”

By: Caroline Murray

Caroline Murray — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 09:44:08 +0000

I was looking at ‘bluecoat boys’ the other day (à propos the printer Robert Harrild: http://bit.ly/2wVV9I4), and it is clearly much more complicated than just Christ’s Hospital – any chance you could bring your expertise to bear on this in a future blog?

By: Natalie Koch

Natalie Koch — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 09:42:31 +0000

Beautiful prints.
The Italian avant-garde composer Luciano Berio was also fascinated by the Cries of London, he set some of them to music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZuAB2m4oqk

By: Singing Organ-Grinder

Singing Organ-Grinder — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 08:01:33 +0000

But what’s your lead image venting? Toys, or has he got some kind of act?

By: Valerie-Jael

Valerie-Jael — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 07:21:21 +0000

Wonderful prints! Thanks for sharing. Valerie