Peter Lanyon

Underground

1951

© The estate of Peter Lanyon

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Not on display

Artist: Peter Lanyon 1918–1964
Medium: Screenprint on paper
Dimensions: Image: 265 x 247 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by Warren MacKenzie 1985
Reference: P11082

Catalogue entry

Peter Lanyon 1918-64

P11082 Underground 1951

Screenprint on machine-made paper 265 x 247 (10 3/8 x 9 3/4); printed by the artist and Warren MacKenzie in an edition of 8
Inscribed on back at centre ‘Underground from Peter to Alix + Warren New Year 1952'
Presented by Warren MacKenzie 1985

Warren MacKenzie, who was present at the making of this print, has written in a letter to the Tate Gallery postmarked 25 November 1987:

This was the first silk screen print Peter made. We gathered at Bernard Leach's cottage where my wife Alix & I were living to teach interested St Ives artists the seriograph techniques. Peter experimented and when he was unhappy with the first results took turps and washed [the] first printings off the paper leaving only a stain. He liked this and overprinted several other screens to complete the print. After discovering this wash off technique he used it in his second print ‘In the Trees'.

MacKenzie recalls that he acquired both prints shortly after they had been exhibited in a local gallery in St Ives in December 1951 (see also entries for Patrick Hayman P11094 and P11095, Alix MacKenzie P11096, P11097 and P11098, Warren MacKenzie P02942, P02943 and P02944 and John Wells P77131).

Published in:
The Tate Gallery 1984-86: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions Including Supplement to Catalogue of Acquisitions 1982-84, Tate Gallery, London 1988, p.403