Allen W. Seaby “Kingfisher” woodblock, England circa 1900-1908. A very early print from one of England’s most important woodblock artists, a less colorful print of this image is also on view at the Victoria & Albert Museum. This is number 74 out of 100 prints, as noted in lower left corner. Signed with both his early monogram in the image at right as well as pencil signed below. Print is very bright and colorful, no fading and paper in excellent condition, some mild staining to lower left margin as seen in photos. Housed in a period quarter sawn oak frame, flares outward toward image with a nice raised bevel edge around the mat. Image measures 8” by 6” and frame is 15.25” by 13”. SOLD
Allen William Seaby (1867-1953), watercolorist, woodcut artist, author, and illustrator, was born in London, England on May 25, 1867, the son of a cabinet maker and carpenter. He studied color woodcut with Frank Morley Fletcher, a pioneer in England of woodblock color printing by Japanese methods, at the School of Art, Reading University. Seaby joined the staff of the University of Reading in 1899 where he became professor of fine art and later head of the art department. He was professor between 1920 and 1933. Seaby mastered the techniques of color woodcut and became one of its leading exponents. He won a gold medal for color woodcut in Milan in 1906 and was a founding member of the Engravers and Printers in Colour and the Colour Print Guild. Biography from Annex Galleries.
