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Hayter’s obituary in the Guardian in 1988 described him as ‘by far the finest British printmaker of this century’, quite an accolade.  He was hugely influential in his lifetime, setting up the Atelier 17 studio in 1927 (first in Paris, and later in New York) which played a vital role in the 20th Century revival of the print as an independent art form. Through this he worked with artists such as Picasso, Chagall, Ernst and Giacometti, and later Pollock and Rothko. Hayter, part of the artistic dynasty that included Sir George Hayter, Queen Victoria’s official portraitist, originally trained as a chemist, and it was this training that enabled him to develop hitherto unknown techniques, including viscosity printing (allowing the artist to lay three or more colours on a single intaglio plate). During his lifetime he was uninterested in promoting himself and exhibited little, and although he has always been recognised as historically important it is only in recent years that his work is gaining the recognition that it merits.

His vibrant works, influenced by Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism are characterised by innovation, intense colour and movement. In 1968 he was made a CBE and in 1982 an honorary Royal Academician.  The British Museum purchased 400 of his prints, the largest acquisition it had ever made from a living artist.

Medium: Etching printed in colours

Signed: Yes and dated 1979, numbered 40/75

Black and Moorhead 410