The Society of Wood Engravers

There's something about wood engravings: the simplicity of the concept contrasts with the complexity and detail of the finished prints. I like the purity of the black and white, the small size and personal nature of woodcuts.

We visited Bath at the weekend, to catch the last weekend of the Society of Wood Engravers exhibition. I coveted practically every small engraving, they were so beautiful. I bought Moonface a little engraving of a hare for Christmas, although I'm not sure that its artwork was quite up to the standard which we saw in Bath. However, it was from a local artist.

Travelling to Bath is almost a pleasure these days, as we can take the local train only ten minutes' walk away, then after a change at Temple Meads we can be walking there in only forty minutes. It's faster and so much easier than driving. After spending our hour or so in the Victoria Gallery we strolled around Bath, regretting the mess made of some of the centre in the '60s, browsing shoe-shops in a desultory manner, half-hoping to find something useful in the sales, and then ate a disappointing couple of sandwiches before another stroll and catching a train home. It made a good day out.


:o)