The barricade, first stone

The barricade, first stone

Item Information

Title:
The barricade, first stone
Title (alt.):
The barricade, no. 2
Description:
Belgian civilians in at least one instance were stripped and marched in front of the troops as a shield. -GB The two versions of "The Barricade" are exact reversals of the same image. The following explanation is by S. Dale Phillips, one of printer Bolton Brown's last students. "The print showing left handed gunners is from a drawing on stone. The reversed print showing right handed gunners is from a zinc plate on which the drawing had been transferred from the stone. The drawing on stone was completed, signed and prepared for printing as usual. For the transfer to zinc the stone was rolled up using transfer ink. This ink has the same potency on zinc as litho crayon would have had. In other respects it looks and acts the same as litho printing ink used for pulling an edition of prints. A zinc plate, which is flexible, was then laid over the stone charged with transfer ink and the print pulled on a zinc sheet in the same manner as if paper stock had been used. The zinc plate was then gummed, etched and prepared for printing by rolling it up with printing ink. Both stone and zinc are now printable. The stone then printed left handed gunners and has capability to print an edition. The zinc plate has the same capability to print an edition, showing right handed gunners... Whether Bellows planned the reversal in the beginning I cannot say. I suspect he suffered the shock of seeing left handed gunmen, then decided on the transfer. The signature would not support arguments for a planned transfer." (S. Dale Phillips to Lauris Mason, November 12, 1976) The two versions of "The Barricade" are identical but reversed. The signature is backwards in the "Second Stone." (Mason)
Artist:
Bellows, George, 1882-1925
Name on Item:
Geo Bellows
Date:
1918
Format:
Prints
Genre:
Lithographs
Location:
Boston Public Library
Arts Department
Collection (local):
George Bellows (1882-1925). Prints and Drawings
Subjects:
Barricades
Punishment & torture
Soldiers
Nudes
Raising hands
Places:
Belgium
Extent:
1 print : lithograph ; sheet 60 x 82 cm
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/3t947g50j
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Notes:
Title from Mason catalogue raisonné.
Alternative title from Bellows catalogue raisonné.
Mason: M. 61; Bellows: B. 41
Additional information accompanying item: Signed.
Boston Public Library has a related drawing.
Notes (acquisition):
Gift; Albert H. Wiggin
Notes (date):
Date from Mason catalogue raisonné.
Notes (citation):
Mason, Lauris. "The lithographs of George Bellows : a catalogue raisonné." KTO Press, 1977, Millwood, N.Y.
Bellows, Emma. "George W. Bellows : his lithographs." A. A. Knopf, 1927, New York.
Accession #:
1941.1.20
Identifier:
06_05_000256
Barcode:
36666003815343