A profoundly intimate portrait from a pivotal year, this 1924 engraving of Eric Gill’s adopted son embodies the artist’s core belief in the unity of art, craft, and family.
This zinc engraving captures the artist's adopted son, Gordian, in a moment of quiet introspection, his downcast gaze suggesting a private, contemplative world. Gill forsakes traditional fluid lines for a stippled, almost stitch-like technique, a direct translation of his primary practice as a master stone carver. Created the very year he moved from the Ditchling craft community to the stark isolation of Capel-y-ffin, the work's austere discipline reflects a turning point in his life and art. It is a testament to his philosophy of directness and the integrity of the maker's hand, where each mark is an act of devotion. This particular impression comes from the landmark 1929 Douglas Cleverdon portfolio, Engravings by Eric Gill, confirming its significant place in the artist's printmaking oeuvre.
Medium: Zinc engraving on paper.
Inscription on Plate: Signed with monogram 'EG' and numbered '53' lower right.
Inscription on Verso (in graphite, later hand): 'Eric Gill 1882-1940 / Gordian Gill / Copper Engraving, 1923'.
Condition Note: The print is in very good condition, with a strong, clear plate impression on sound paper. It is presented in a modern silver-colored metal frame with a wide archival mat, both in excellent condition. The frame was made by the noted London framer Leonard Villa.
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