High Street. Public house 

This is Eric Ravilious’s ‘High Street. Public house’ made using the commercial process of lithography. Ravilious was a master of this technique, which involves drawing on a stone or metal plate and then using a printing press to transfer the image onto paper. The resulting print has a distinctive, slightly grainy texture. Ravilious was one of a number of artists who made a speciality of printmaking in the interwar years. It was a moment when there was real desire to make compelling art for the masses. Notice the artist’s interest in the everyday - a simple street scene. The artist is careful to describe not only the architecture, but also the light and atmosphere. The rain adds to the sense of depth and the yellow and grey balance one another perfectly. Printmaking opens up questions around labor and artistic production. As we look at the picture, we can consider the social dimensions of craft, design and materiality.