Baskin, Leonard. (1922 - 2000)

Blake & Palmer - Two Engravings INSCRIBED TO SYLVIA PLATH AND TED HUGHES

A pair of woodcut engravings, "Blake", "Palmer" (depicting the nineteenth century landscape painter, etcher, and printmaker Samuel Palmer RWS), the first inscribed "for Sylvia & Ted" and each signed "Baskin." The images measuring: 8 x 11 cm (Blake) and 5 x 5.5 cm (Palmer).  Fully backed to paper support with small tears and losses to periphery of fragile tissue just outside of the plate, presented archivally matted to 11 x 14 inches and 8 x 10 inches overall respectively. 

Leonard Baskin had befriended Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes when they were living in Northampton, MA, in 1957-1958. Baskin taught printmaking and sculpture at Smith College from 1953-1973. The friendship flourished after their return to England and Baskin continued to collaborate with Hughes for decades, indeed right up to Hughes' death in 1998. These prints were engraved as part of Blake and the Youthful Ancients (1956), fifty copies of which were printed, the book consisting of 18 wood engravings of William Blake and his followers. 

(21654)