Thursday 5 March 2009

wood engravings

The Bird's Nest

Sometimes a birthday present is so unexpected
and yet so thoughtfully chosen
that you catch your breath
when you undo the wrapping.

The Farmyard

My father-in-law, Thomas, is a bibliophile
and gave me the tiniest slip of a book
wood engravings by Gwen Raverat
published by R.D. & J.M. Carr
The Quince Tree Press

Children

Gwen Raverat was a granddaughter of Charles Darwin
and later in life published 'Period Piece',
a memoir of her Cambridge childhood,
one of my parents' favourite books.

April

She was an exceptionally talented artist,
specialising in wood engraving,
who trained at the Slade
and then lived in France with her husband
until his early death in 1925.

The Balcony

The exquisite wood engravings featured
include examples from her time in France
and her later book illustrations.

In the Loft

The ones I have selected remind m
of my family home in Cornwall.
There are days when I wish I could be closer.


I had a dove

15 comments:

Mary said...

Alice - oh boy - they are absolutely gorgeous - they took MY breath away..

fifi said...

so beautiful, so english!
sometimes I imagine I live a life where I just sit quietly somewhere and make things like that.


i know JUST the person who would love to see these...

Allison said...

These are so sweet. Thank you for sharing. Did you have a dove?

walter and me said...

These are really beautiful.

Unknown said...

Oh Alice, such beautiful images, very inspiring.

Gina said...

They are so beautiful. What a wonderful thoughtful gift.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad you liked this little book (I seem to remember giving you Period Piece some years ago - also one of my favourites: I bought my copy on the day of publication over 50 years ago, I seem to remember!) I have some more of the little books printed by J L Carr which may wing their way to you eventually. There is a good biography of him called 'The last Englishman'by Byron Rogers who also wrote an excellent biography of teh poet R S Thomas 'The Man Who Went Into the West'.

Lynn said...

I lost myself in some wonderful daydreams there...

Magical!

Unknown said...

What a lovely gift to cherish always.

dragonfly said...

Truly exquisite - lucky you!

The Coffee Lady said...

Those are so beautiful. If I could only swop your father in law for mine, because I keep getting really anonymous in-law gifts which make me seethe rather than catch my breath.

Maybe he could just have a word, father in law to father in law...

The domestic novice said...

Those are just beautiful. They remind me of my grandparents house. I love wood engravings. Have you read Consequences by Penelope Lively?

Anonymous said...

Oh, Alice, these are beautiful. What a wonderful gift!

blackbird said...

SO beautiful.

Thank you.

RW said...

I love woodcuts. These are beautiful images.