Gerald Leslie Brockhurst (1891-1978), Una (Portrait of a Creole Lady), etching, 1929, signed in pencil lower right, and also inscribed by the artist: “2nd State, GB”. Reference: Fletcher 65, second state (of 10), before the edition of 111. In very good condition, printed on a cream wove paper with full margins, 8 5/8 x 6 1/4, the sheet 15 3/8 x 10 1/8 inches, archival matting.
A fine impression of this early state, before the signature in the plate and much additional shading in the background and on the figure.
Only 4 proofs are known in this state.
A painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York by Brockhurst is related to this etching; the model is the same woman.
Gerald Leslie Brockhurst was one of the outstanding British artists of the early 20th Century, hugely popular in the ’20’s and early ’30’s. Today he is still renowned for his poignant images of young women and girls and several portraits of contemporaries (Rushbury, McBey); to print lovers portraits such as this example show him at his best: as a master etcher, and superb draftsman.
