Jackie drove me to and from New Milton for me to lunch with Norman at Tas, in The Cut, EC1.
In the rather neglected station garden a Leycesteria is blooming rather early. Note the dumped supermarket trolley visible beyond the stems.
From Waterloo Station I approached The Cut, as congested as ever, via Lower Marsh
with its cosmopolitan food stalls preparing for the lunchtime custom.
I wasn’t the only photographer focussing on food.
Norman and I had our usual enjoyable discussion over the Anatolian cuisine. We both chose the Tas Special lamb meal, which was very tender and tasty. Before that we had each chosen soups. Mine was fish with coriander and ginger. For dessert we each enjoyed baklava, and shared a bottle of the house red. We finished with coffee before I made my way back to Waterloo for my return home. Further sustenance was not required this evening.
Two days ago, I featured the dust jacket of Eiluned Lewis’s ‘Honey Pots and Brandy Bottles’. This was to display the work of Agnes Miller Parker. I had bought this 1954 publication some forty years ago, essentially for the illustrations. Perhaps, I thought, it was time I got around to reading it. I finished it on the train today.
The book is a collection of essays and poems gathered to represent the four seasons of the year. Published by Country Life the writing is pleasant, if, for this reader, unexciting.
What lifts the publication well beyond the ordinary are the wood engravings of a woman I regard as one of the best illustrators of her day.
The clarity, perspective, and depth of field evident in these masterpieces would be impressive if they were simply pen and ink drawings. When one considers the technical skill required to bring light and life to images worked into blocks of wood, admiration can only be enhanced.
Those woodcuts are a feast for the eyes….and the mind.
They are indeed, Cynthia. Thank you
I presume they’re still under copyright… because I’ve a good mind to print them off and frame them!
They’re that good, aren’t they, Bruce? Thanks
Thanks for sharing those superb woodcuts, Derrick,
Thanks, John. You would know. I’m glad you liked them
How beautiful these wood engravings are! Your lunch does sound very substantial indeed.
Thank you, Sylvia
This is indeed remarkable work! I cannot begin to conceive of her process, I can only admire the finished product. I would love to see the original.
As someone who like to draw and knows some secrets about (only a few), I think Mrs Parker would be also today among the best illustrators. These are really masterpieces, Derrick. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you, Monica
Amazing.
Thanks, ajp
You’re welcome.
All the very best.
Alan. 😎
I do love your tours through parts of London. The engravings are really lovely and they have a particular style that reminds me of John Nash. Are they the same school or time period? I suppose I could look this up myself, but in the moment am asking.
Thank you, Lisa. The artists were contemporary, but Parker was Glasgow and Nash London.
Interesting. Thanks!
Wow…such talent. Those are beautiful, Derrick. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Jill. I’m glad you like them
Very stunning illustrations. They really pop.
Don’t they, Luanne. Thank you.
Stunning!
Thank you Marie. Isn’t she?
Derrick,
Thank you for introducing me to Agnes Miller Parker. I’ve spent the last 20 minutes looking at her art and I am just in awe. How one would get such fluidity using wood blocks is beyond the beyond!
Ginene
Thank you, Ginene. I thought you would like her.
Oh wow those wood cuts are eye catching…. beautiful Derrick. ..
Thank you, Chitra
Those woodcuts truly are beautiful. We particularly liked the light falling through the trees in Winter. So detailed.
That was a good one. Thank you, Mostly
“Note the dumped supermarket trolley visible beyond the stems.” People who do this are annoying and selfish and lazy imo. And…. I didn’t know you could get french fries and onion rings where you live. I was just told the french fries are called chips. I guess I figured different country, different food. And french fries and onion rings seem so unhealthy, that I figured only Americans eat them 🙂
Thanks, Weekly. I love ’em both. What you call chips are, I think, what we call crisps.
I love ’em both, too!
Stunning works Derrick, what a wonderful artist – thank you for introducing us to Agnes.
Thank you, Mary
My favorite illustration were the Summer and Autumn since each has a pretty bird, Derrick. I draw with pen and ink. Not as exquisite, but I respect the quality of these detailed drawings which were made into wood cut engravings.
Thank you for sharing your lamb meal, too. 🙂
Many thanks, Robin
I echo the other comments in thanks for sharing the woodcuts. They are just amazing.
Many thanks, pagedogs
Wow what an artist! I like the photos too 🙂
Thanks you, Anna
You’re welcome:)
Extraordinary pictures of the seasons. They always return.
Thank you, Micheline. She is marvellous
Thanks for introducing her work! So glorious. Really potent graphically, and yet sweet and engaging at the same time. Remarkable stuff! As was the food, apparently, on this occasion!
Cheers!
Kathryn
Thanks, Kathryn