Artwork details

Artist

Title

Man and Woman

Description

One of a series of 18 lithographs drawn by the artist for the Auden Poems/Moore Lithographs 1974 book and portfolio. This work is an artist proof from an edition of 25 printed on vellum aside from the portfolio (edition of 75) and the book. Signed by the artist lower right in pencil; numbered AP 7/10 lower left in pencil.

Printed in inky black, Man and Woman features a rubenesque woman standing in profile to the right of the picture, her hands placed lightly on her stomach. She glances past the viewer to her left. To the left of the woman stands a shadowy figure, one who recurs in this series of Moore lithographs, a presence existing between menace and guardianship. The nude duo evokes the origin of mankind -- an idea of the eternal.

Man and Woman displays Moore’s fascination with light and dark – what he called a “…bias towards the blackness and mysterious depths.” Moore was inspired by the prints of Rembrandt and the drawings of Seurat, and even drew on his memories of viewing the Altamira cave paintings, recalling how some of the images used the shadow of candlelight on the rough surface of the rock to model light.

The Auden/Moore limited edition book and portfolio were exhibited on publication at the British Museum, London, with an accompanying catalogue.

Man and Woman is one of a group of lithographs presented with the work of poet W.H. Auden (1907-1973). Not conceived as illustrations, Moore wanted his landscape and figure works to stand alone, complementing or contrasting with Auden’s poetry. He and Auden were both from Yorkshire, and the dark landscapes and moody figures that Moore produced for the project evoke the industrial nature and rugged moors of the area.

Date

1973

Medium

Lithograph

Edition

Signature

Signed

Catalogue Raisonne

Auden Poems/Moore Lithographs, with essay by John Russell, British Museum Publications, London 1974 No. 66 and 79 David Mitchinson Henry Moore Prints and Portfolios. Patrick Cramer, Geneva 2010 no. 272, illustrated p. 207

Image

14.3 x 10.5 inches

Sheet

25.25 x 20.5 inches

Status

Sold

Henry Moore

Henry Moore produced many prints, his first prints being created in the 1940s. Most of Henry Moore’s prints are lithography prints though he also produce many etching prints. All of Moore prints are original prints as Moore saw printmaking as a distinct medium to create artworks.