Cyril Edward Power (British, London 1872-1951) Whence & Whither? Linocut printed in Chinese orange, viridian, permanent blue and dark blue, c.1930, on buff oriental laid tissue, signed, titled and numbered 16/50 in pencil, with margins, 310 x 240mm (12 1/8 x 9 3/8in)(B)
Lot 49AR
Cyril Edward Power (British, London 1872-1951) Whence & Whither? Linocut printed in Chinese orange, viridian, permanent blue and dark blue, c.1930, on buff oriental laid tissue, signed, titled and numbered 16/50 in pencil, with margins, 310 x 240mm (12 1/8 x 9 3/8in)(B)
Sold for £97,250 (US$ 145,725) inc. premium

Lot Details
Cyril Edward Power (British, London 1872-1951)
Whence & Whither? (Coppel CEP 14)
Linocut printed in Chinese orange, viridian, permanent blue and dark blue, c.1930, on buff oriental laid tissue, signed, titled and numbered 16/50 in pencil, with margins, 310 x 240mm (12 1/8 x 9 3/8in)(B)

Footnotes

  • 'Whence & Whither?' exemplifies the Grosvenor School's preoccupation with the "urban experience in all its mechanized tumult and electrifying diversity". Derived from preparatory drawings of the escalators in Tottenham Court Road made in 1928, 'Whence & Whither?' depicts a sublimely choreographed descent into the underworld of the London Underground by a host of faceless commuters rendered anonymous by the monotony of the daily commute.

    Power's print notes appear in Andrews's Print Book I, 1929-1933, where the original title of this linocut is recorded as 'The Cascade'. As meticulously detailed in his notes, the colours of this impression are worked with varying pressure; densely in the main body of the linocut with lighter tones for the force fields beyond. Chinese orange should be "heavy in centre rail rather medium on figure[s]. light pressure & faint on roof. faint in left hand corner for steps". Viridian should be "Heavy to centre balustrade. light on figures except at top edge. Pale in roof". The permanent blue should be "Pale in roof & steps. Graduated in roof. Heavy in front & medium..at back & top. Palish in arms".

    Philip Vann, Cyril Power Linocuts: A Complete Catalogue (Farnham: Lund Humphries, 2008),14-6.
    Stephen Coppel, Linocuts of the Machine Age: Claude Flight and the Grosvenor School (Aldershot: Scolar Press, 1995), 93.
Auction information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services.

Buyers' Obligations

ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.

If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.

Buyers' Premium and Charges

For all Sales categories excluding Wine, Coins & Medals and Motor Cars and Motorcycles:

Buyer's Premium Rates
25% on the first £50,000 of the Hammer Price
20% from £50,001 to £1,000,000 the Hammer Price
12% from £1,000,001 of the Hammer Price

VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.

Payment Notices

Payment in advance: by cash, check with banker's card, credit card, bank draft or traveler's cheque.

Payment at collection: by credit or debit card.

Credit card charges: a surcharge of 2% is applicable when using Mastercard, Visa and overseas debit cards.

Shipping Notices

For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licenses please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.

Lot symbols
AR Artists Resale Right

Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium.
Contacts
  1. Rupert Worrall
    Specialist - Prints and Multiples
    Bonhams
    Work
    101 New Bond Street
    London, United Kingdom W1S 1SR
    Work +44 20 7468 8262
    FaxFax: +44 20 7447 7439
  2. Tanya Grigoroglou
    Specialist - Prints and Multiples
    Bonhams
    Work
    101 New Bond Street
    London, United Kingdom W1S 1SR
    Work +44 207 468 8212
    FaxFax: +44 20 7447 7439
Similar Items