Gerald Leslie Brockhurst

Original G.L.Brockhurst etching.

Superb proof impression of the completed etching. From the only edition of 107 signed proofs. The plate for this etching is known to have been cancelled.

Brockhurst’s finest full length portrait of his first wife, Anaïs, depicted here posing in ballerina costume. This outstanding etching is a stunning display of Gerald Leslie Brockhurst’s consummate craftsmanship as an etcher. Worked in meticulous detail through a dense web of fine etched line and stipple, this masterpiece of etching technique displays the artist’s exceptional natural gift for the handling of light and shade, contour, and texture.

Gerald Leslie Brockhurst is regarded as one of the most fashionable and successful British portrait artists active between the two World Wars. Entirely self-taught in the art of etching, G.L. Brockhurst perfected a form of stipple-like technique through which he achieved an astonishing finish which remains unsurpassed in its brilliance. In this elaborate work the artist has delighted in every variety of texture, from the model’s facial features to that of the varied fabrics of her silky bodice and diaphanous dress, in order to display his absolute mastery of etching technique. A masterpiece of etching, this superbly worked figure study displays the remarkable manner through which Brockhurst achieved the astonishing finish seen in his finest original prints. The dramatic lighting with its strong chiaroscuro effect has further enhanced the visual impact of this impressive work.

On cream laid paper, with full margins. Very fine original condition. Image surface excellent.