Donald Sultan (1951-present)

Cypresses

Linocut printed in colours, 1982
Not in Walker

A working proof printed in black and brown over a green background. There are two clear trees in the subject and the illusion of three others that may have been obscured by the black ink having been thickly applied.

Stamped in ink on the verso: 'Imprimerie Arnéra Archives/ Non Signé'.

Watermark: Arches. 

"In the summer of 1982, Feldman succeeded in persuading Sultan to work on linoleum cuts with the printer Jaime Arnéra in Vallauris, France. Although the artist completed two portfolios, "Tramp Pictures - Cypresses and stacks" and "Tramp Pictures - Irises", the experience was fraught with difficulty. Arnéra wanted to carve the blocks from drawings, but Sultan insisted on carving the blocks himself in a highly unorthodox way. "Those prints worked out because I did what you're not supposed to do. I left the linoleum out in the sun and used to heat to soften it up. This turned out to be the perfect way to do it. If you get the linoleum soft enough, you can use a pencil on it, which I don't think anyone had ever done before. I was very happy with the prints finally." 

Extract from: Donald Sultan: A Print Retrospective, Walker, B. The American Federation of Arts, New York, 1992, pages 10-11. 

Image size : 64.9 x 50.3 cm (25.55 x 19.8 in) 
Sheet size : 75.0 x 62.0 cm (29.53 x 24.41 in) 

£1,250

Donald Sultan (1951-present)

Cypresses

Linocut printed in colours, 1982
Not in Walker

An experimental colour trial printed in 'blanc crème' and brown over a green background. The brown plate is slightly misregistered. The variant inking suggests this was an experimental working proof.

Stamped in ink on the verso: 'Imprimerie Arnéra Archives/ Non Signé'.

Watermark: Arches. 

"In the summer of 1982, Feldman succeeded in persuading Sultan to work on linoleum cuts with the printer Jaime Arnéra in Vallauris, France. Although the artist completed two portfolios, "Tramp Pictures - Cypresses and stacks" and "Tramp Pictures - Irises", the experience was fraught with difficulty. Arnéra wanted to carve the blocks from drawings, but Sultan insisted on carving the blocks himself in a highly unorthodox way. "Those prints worked out because I did what you're not supposed to do. I left the linoleum out in the sun and used to heat to soften it up. This turned out to be the perfect way to do it. If you get the linoleum soft enough, you can use a pencil on it, which I don't think anyone had ever done before. I was very happy with the prints finally." 

Extract from: Donald Sultan: A Print Retrospective, Walker, B. The American Federation of Arts, New York, 1992, pages 10-11. 

Image size : 65.2 x 50.4 cm (25.67 x 19.84 in) 
Sheet size : 75.0 x 62.0 cm (29.53 x 24.41 in) 

£1,250

Donald Sultan (1951-present)

Cypresses

Linocut printed in colours, 1982
Not in Walker

A working proof printed in 'blanc crème' and brown over a green background. The brown plate is slightly misregistered. This appears to be a colour trial as the variant inking suggests this was an experiment. The 'blanc crème' has been thinly applied allowing the brown ink to retain a darker cast.

Stamped in ink on the verso: 'Imprimerie Arnéra Archives/ Non Signé'.

Watermark: Arches. 

Provenance:
Archives of Imprimerie Arnéra 

"In the summer of 1982, Feldman succeeded in persuading Sultan to work on linoleum cuts with the printer Jaime Arnéra in Vallauris, France. Although the artist completed two portfolios, "Tramp Pictures - Cypresses and stacks" and "Tramp Pictures - Irises", the experience was fraught with difficulty. Arnéra wanted to carve the blocks from drawings, but Sultan insisted on carving the blocks himself in a highly unorthodox way. "Those prints worked out because I did what you're not supposed to do. I left the linoleum out in the sun and used to heat to soften it up. This turned out to be the perfect way to do it. If you get the linoleum soft enough, you can use a pencil on it, which I don't think anyone had ever done before. I was very happy with the prints finally."

Extract from: Donald Sultan: A Print Retrospective, Walker, B. The American Federation of Arts, New York, 1992, pages 10-11. 

Image Size : 64.8 x 49.9cm (25.5 x 19.6in) 
Sheet Size : 75 x 62cm (29.5 x 24.4in) 

£1,250