William Strang, “Edwin T. Bull”, 1907

William Strang (1859–1921)

“Edwin T. Bull”, 1907

Note on the Sitter: Edwin T. Bull remains an enigmatic figure in Strang’s oeuvre. He likely belonged to the artist’s circle of professional or personal associates in London. In this study, Strang treats Bull with the same “fidelity to beauty” and psychological intensity usually reserved for his high-profile literary subjects, making this a rare and intimate glimpse into the Etching Revival's human side.

Technical Details & Condition:

Drypoint with pale plate tone on cream laid paper; pencil-signed by the artist at lower right.

While David Strang (1962) categorises this print as an etching (cat. no. 596), the British Museum describes it as a drypoint (inv. no. 1953,0509.316). Given the nuanced phrasing of the lines, it is likely a drypoint or a masterful combination of both techniques.

This impression is from the second state (of two), featuring the artist’s name and date inscribed in the plate. David Strang notes only four impressions of the first state, and "perhaps about 20" of the second, of which only 10 to 12 were likely signed.

A strong, superb, and near-faultless impression. The sheet is in near-pristine condition, with only minor remnants of mounting on the verso.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 38.8 x 28.5 cm
• Platemark: 30.3 x 22.7 cm

In-Plate Lettering:

• Lower right: “W. STRANG / 1907”

References:

• Strang 486 (Laurence Binyon [intro.] “William Strang, Catalogue of His Etched Work”, 3 vols., 1906–23, Glasgow, cat. no. 486)
• Strang 596 ii (David Strang, “William Strang, Catalogue of His Etchings and Engravings”, 1962, Glasgow, p. 102, cat. no. 596 ii)
• National Galleries of Scotland: https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/32766  
• British Museum (no image): https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1953-0509-316

Price & Shipping:

AU$479 (approximately US$342.63 / €292.20 / £253.26), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties (if any) are the buyer’s responsibility.

If you wish to purchase this large, pencil-signed, and exceptionally rare portrait study by William Strang—a key figure of the Etching Revival noted for his ability to express psychological depth and fidelity to appearance in his portraits—please contact me at oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com. I will provide a PayPal invoice to ensure a secure and easy transaction.

This print has been sold

William Strang, “Potato Lifting”, 1882

William Strang (1859–1921)

“Potato Lifting”, 1882, published in London in 1882 by Seeley & Co as an original etching to Philip Gilbert Hamerton’s “The Portfolio”— one of the most important art periodicals during the Etching Revival.

Etching with plate tone printed in a dark umber ink on cream laid paper (watermarked The Portfolio) with full margins as published.

Size: (sheet) 34.5 x 24.2 cm (plate); 25 x 17.5 cm; (image borderline) 23 x 16 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (lower right corner) “W. Strang”.

State iii (of iii) published state.

David Strang 12 (David Strang 1962, “William Strang: Catalogue of his Etching and Engravings”, Glasgow, University of Glasgow, p. 2, cat. no. 12).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Two women in the foreground, lifting baskets of potatoes from a cart. Other workers in the background to right; final state; illustration to 'The Portfolio', October 1882. 1882/ Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1931-0511-27 [inv. 1931,0511.27]).

Condition: a richly inked and well-printed (near faultless) impression in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or signs of handling.

I am selling this very powerful etching of barefoot female farm workers that, to my eyes, is an iconic image of the physically demanding work required of women farm labourers in the 19^th century—note the juxtaposition of these tolling women beside the man in the distance straightening his back while resting on a fork—for AU$207 (equivalent to approximately US$131.29, EUR 125.93, or GBP 104.31 at the time of listing) and includes Express Mail Service (EMS) postage and handling to any worldwide destination. Please note that any import duties or taxes levied by the destination country are the responsibility of the buyer and are not included in the purchase price. Payment is requested in Australian dollars (AU$207).

If you are interested in purchasing this pictorially arresting and memorable etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold

William Strang’s etching with engraving, “H. Cock, No. 1”, 1895

William Strang (1859–1921)

“H. Cock, No. 1”, 1895, printed and annotated in pencil by William Strang’s son, David Strang (aka David Rogerson Strang) (1887–1967), with the title, the state and its publication details. Note that this print is the first plate of two plates both executed in 1895 and showing slight variations of the same portrait. The second plate (also printed by David Strang) is titled, “H. Cock, No. 2”, 1895 (see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1953-0509-187).

Etching and engraving with plate tone on fine cream laid paper with pencil notations by the printer.

Size: (sheet) 28.7 x 18.7 cm; (plate) 23.9 x 16.2 cm.

Inscribed below image in pencil by David Strang: (left) “David Strang. imp./ 326 (609) H. Cock, n^o 1. Final state.”; (right) “W^m Strang fec./ DS.”

State iv (of iv)

DS.326 (David Strang 1962, “William Strang: Catalogue of his Etchings and Engravings”, Glasgow, University of Glasgow, cat. no. 326. IV); Binyon 609 (Laurence Binyon 1906–23, “William Strang: Catalogue of his Etched Work”, 3 vols, Glasgow, J. Maclehose & Sons, cat. no. 609).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print: “Portrait, half-length, facing front, looking towards the viewer, with a moustache and a beard, wearing a jacket over a shirt, a dark tie and a waistcoat, top two buttons of the jacket fastened, a flower in the buttonhole and a handkerchief in the pocket; final state. 1895” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1953-0509-188).

Condition: a richly inked impression in an excellent (near pristine) condition with no tears, holes, folds, stains or signs of handling.

I am selling this superb etching—the first plate of two plates with minor variations of the same portrait—for the total price of AU$257 in total (currently US$177.18/EUR164.75/GBP145.88 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this superb portrait worthy of close study—note how the artist has rendered the tonal transition of the face from line, to rows of dots and finally to a random scattering of dots—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

William Strang’s etching, “Mealtime”, 1883

William Strang (1859–1921)

“Mealtime”, 1883, published by Philip Gilbert Hamerton (1834–1894) in London in 1884 in the art periodical, “The Portfolio”, vol. 15, facing page 145 (see https://archive.org/details/portfolioh15hame/page/n193/mode/2up).

In the discussion on the facing page accompanying this etching, Philip Hamerton (1884) offers the following insights: “These poor people happen to be out-of-doors and are hungry, and they possess the simple materials of a meal in which luxury is unknown. They all belong to the same family, and we learn from the artist that the old man has been giving himself a good wash in the lake before his dinner …. The people are serious, the usual characteristic of Mr. Strang's personages, and the meal is not likely to be enlivened with merriment; but they are not supposed or intended to be unhappy. They are 'poor and not thinking of their poverty,' so there is neither any attempt to hide it nor any effort to overcome the thoughts of it by forced gaiety” (p. 145).

Etching on laid paper with the “Portfolio” watermark, signed and dated in the plate.

Size: (sheet) 23.5 x 33.6 cm; (plate) 17.2 x 25 cm.

Inscribed in plate at lower right: “W Strang 83”.

DS.54 (David Strang 1962, “William Strang: Catalogue of his Etchings and Engravings”, Glasgow, University of Glasgow, cat. no. 54).

Condition: a richly inked impression in an excellent (near pristine) condition with no tears, holes, folds, stains or signs of handling.

I am selling this superb etching for the total price of AU$224 in total (currently US$154.98/EUR144.23/GBP127.34 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this strong and respectful representation of a very poor family, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

William Strang’s etching, “In the Dungeon”, 1885

William Strang (1859–1921)

“In the Dungeon” (aka “Christian and Hopeful in the Dungeon”), 1885 (date advised by Frank Newbolt [1911]: https://archive.org/details/etchingsofwillia00newb/page/n41/mode/2up), published in London by George Routledge and Sons as an illustration to John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress”, c1895.

Etching printed in a green-black ink on buff wove paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 15.8 x 21.5 cm; (plate) 12.5 x 17 cm.

Inscribed in plate with the artist’s initials (lower left) “W. S.”

Strang 87 (David Strang 1962, “William Strang: Catalogue of his Etchings and Engravings”, Glasgow, University of Glasgow, p, 36, cat. no. 87).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print:

“A stone-clad dungeon; against a wall, to left, Hopeful slouches, looking desp[o]ndent, to his left, Christian kneels, his hands clasped together and his eyes cast heavenwards. Published in 'The Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyan, published in 1895 by John C. Nimmo. Final state. 1894 Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1943-1113-273).

Condition: a strong (near faultless) impression laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper (to allow for handling and mounting). Beyond a small dot in the upper margin the sheet is in near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, significant stains, foxing, or signs of handling.

I am selling this very beautiful etching showing the pilgrim, Christian and his companion, Hope, in the Dungeon of Despair—the two characters are imprisoned by Giant Despair and his wife, Diffidence, for trespassing/sleeping in the grounds of the Doubting-Castle (see pp. 128–135)— for a total cost of AU$182 (currently US$133.72/EUR113.04/GBP96.38 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this superb etching, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold