Kidwelly Castle

Charles Tunstall Small (1888 - c.1958)

Linocut

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  • About the work
    Location
    Country: UK
    City: London
    Place: Government Art Collection
    C. Tunstall Small’s linocut presents a picturesque view of Kidwelly, a castle in south west Wales. Composed in a confident, graphic style, using graduating tones of sepia ink, the style of this print is reminiscent of William Nicholson’s popular black and white woodcuts of the 1890s. Kidwelly is a Norman castle overlooking the River Gwendraeth. The present structure dates back to 1200 and is remarkably intact. There are 23 linocuts of castles and abbeys by Tunstall Small in the Government Art Collection. During the Second World War, many English artists, most notably John Piper, set out to capture views of the landscape of England and Wales, in particular historic monuments and rural views. In a period during which the country was under threat of attack or destruction, they took a nostalgic turn by choosing to depict places and landscapes that were intrinsically linked to Britain’s cultural history. Although undated, Tunstall Small’s prints are thought to have been produced during the 1930s and 1940s and therefore tap into this reflective mood.
  • Explore
    Subjects
    topography, castle
    Materials & Techniques
    linocut
  • Details
    Title
    Kidwelly Castle
    Date
    Medium
    Linocut
    Acquisition
    origin uncertain - acquired by Ministry of Works, c.1930-1940
    Inscription
    below image: Kidwelly. / Tunstall Small -
    GAC number
    781A