PRINTMAKING - James Boswell

James Boswell was born in New Zealand on 9 June 1906, but moved to London in 1925. He made many drawings, painting and prints of life in Britain during the 1930s and of life in war-time Britain. 

The Theatre - 1939 - Lithograph on Paper

This print i really like, it shows a man in a theater and it remind me of some of the Shakespeare plays i went to go see in Stratford upon avon. I also love that it is in a circle and not filling the whole page. I love the small detail in this image. To me its like looking through a hole in the wall to see a theatrical performance... i think its the sense of depth from the strong black and white contrast. It is also part of a series i found out that includes these other prints : 

The Cinema 1939 - Lithograph on paper

The bit about this print i like the best is the Usher in the foreground shining a torch for a couple to find a seat, i think its such a nice detail. I think cinemas were really popular in the 1930's and i think its a very beautiful print. 

The street - 1939 - Lithograph on paper

This is a busy street in London. Again the detail in the shops and people is brilliant, the detail in the clothes and positions of the people give me a good feeling of all the characters you would have seen in the 30's in London. I think the same about this image below.

The Station - 1939 - Lithograph 

The people in this print all seem like professionals waiting for the morning train to work, reading the newspapers that they got from the stand on the left. I really like how they are so consumed in the newspaper they are not even aware of the train on the opposite side of the tracks.

I really like the circular shape of the prints. Its something to keep in mind when i make my own work, i always assume things need to fill a page.

I also found more prints by him that i found very interesting ...

Gosfield Street Murder - 1942 - Lithograph 

This print shows a murder that took place in London on 11 Febuary 1942. A prostitute called Margaret Florence Lowe was strangled to death with a silk stocking and her body was then mutilated with a razor-blade and a knife. The murderer, George Frederick Cummins was apprently responsible for a series of murders that occurred over six days in Feb, 1942. Boswell made Two other prints before this print but that are linked to this one. 

The Means Test - 1934 - Lithograph 

The Means Test 2- 1934- Lithograph 

These two prints are pretty shocking and as the title says are suicides caused by the Means test in 1931.  The Means Test affected thousands of people who were out of work by taking away their unemployment benefit. It was the assessment of the total household income of those claiming unemployment benefit, was established in November 1931 as part of the National Government's 'economy' programme. 

I find it really interesting looking at work that is inspired by politics, i have always found it very interesting and very powerful. That is why i liked looking at Dadaism and also why i love the work of Banksy now. 

I think Boswell's prints are very interesting and i really liked reading up on them, i am glad i found his work.