The Impressed Image
Gallery Featured Print
Ernest Stephen Lumsden (British
A prolific etcher, teacher and fine portait painter. Born in London, he studied at University College art
department in Reading and the Academie Julien, Paris. He taught art at Edinburgh College of Art and between
travels abroad spent the rest of his career in Scotland. Ill health prevented him following a career at sea
and again gaining active service in the first world war, which he spent censoring telegrams in India. He married
Mabel Royds who accompanied him on many of his travels. His 336 plates between 1905 and 1935 cover his trips
to Paris, British Columbia, Korea, China, Burma, Tibet and most prolifically India which remained his greatest
source of inspiration. He also produced some 'honest' portraits of some of his contemporaries as well as
etchings of Reading, Ludlow and his home city of Edinburgh. A master of technique his 1924 text 'the Art of
Etching' has taught many subsequent generations of etchers. A complete set of his prints with trial states
resides in the Burbaby Art Gallery, British Columbia. It was bought for them by a Vancouver patron of the arts
after Robin Garton failed to find a UK buyer for the collection. May the UK art and museum community
remain eternally shamed and damned for their meanness. His etchings are still common, cheap and great value.
I'll feature by two or three dozen at a later date when I have photographed mine - most are large plates.
Unfortunately the sublety of the line and printing is often lost in reproduction.
A Jodhpur Gate
Etching. 1913. Edition 50. 213x148mm. L146.
On thin Japan.
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