Drawn to the Page

Title of artwork:

On Slieve-na-man

Artist:

Annesley, Mabel

Materials:

Paper (fiber material), Ink

Techniques:

Wood engraving

Engraver:

Annesley, Mabel

Author:

Rowley, Richard

Title of Publication:

County Down songs

Publisher:

Duckworth and Co.

Publication place:

London

Publication date:

1924

Curator Comment:

Richard Rowley was the pseudonym of Richard Valentine Williams, the Belfast-born poet and dramatist. Rowley’s writings addressed the social realities of life among Northern Ireland’s urban working classes and small-holding farmers. Closely associated with county Down, Annesley has executed her designs in an expressive and intimate manner.  

Note on artwork:

This double page image is from Richard Rowley's collection of poems 'County Down Songs'. In both images Annesley's mark- making is quite ragged, her process of gouging the wood block is evident and her motifs, in particular her image of a town square, are abstracted in form. The depiction of an Irish cottage displays a visually arresting array of textures and patterns.

References:

Snoddy (2002) and ODNB online and DIB online