Edward Bawden - The Lord of the tower looked out and saw a damsel, a dwarf and a knight armed at all points

Edward Bawden CBE RA (1903–1989) – The Lord of the Tower Looked Out and Saw a Damsel, a Dwarf and a Knight Armed at All Points

An original signed linocut by Edward Bawden, one of the most distinctive British printmakers and illustrators of the 20th century. This limited-edition impression, numbered 6/50, was produced in 1982 as part of Bawden’s illustration series for Thomas Malory’s The Chronicles of King Arthur, published by the Folio Society. The V&A catalogues the work as a linoprint on Japanese Hosho paper.

The composition has all the qualities that make Bawden’s graphic work so enduring: a bold, economical arrangement, crisp linear design, and a wonderful sense of narrative clarity. A dwarf, a damsel and an armed knight approach a castle moat on horseback, while a figure watches from the tower above. The medieval subject lends the print a storybook richness, but the handling feels unmistakably modern, with Bawden’s characteristic balance of wit, order and decorative strength.

Both visually striking and well documented, this is an especially appealing example from Bawden’s Arthurian series. It works beautifully as a piece for collectors of British printmaking and illustration, but also as an elegant decorative work in its own right.

Details
Medium: Linocut on Japanese Hosho paper
Artist: Edward Bawden CBE RA
Title: The Lord of the Tower Looked Out and Saw a Damsel, a Dwarf and a Knight Armed at All Points
Date: 1982
Edition: 6/50
Image Size: 20 × 27 cm
Framed Size: 54.5 × 66.5 cm
Condition: Presented in good overall condition. The print appears well preserved and displays very well. Please refer closely to the photographs for the exact condition.
Frame: Presented in a glazed frame with mount. Ready to hang.