An Essay in Woodcuts

a portfolio of ten wood engravings, released in 1930, in an edition of 120.
Walter J. Phillips published An Essay in Woodcuts in 1930. It was his third portfolio, and in many ways, his best in that it focused on a specific subject. The Canadian ethnologist, Marius Barbeau, provided a 'monograph' on the coastal Indians. Phillips' own comments in the portfolio (which follow) tell us why he turned to wood engraving. (It should be noted that while Phillips certainly made a distinction between the technique of the 'woodcut' and that of the 'wood engraving,' he uses the word 'woodcut' in his introductory essay.

RHB

On to the artist's Introductory Essay

On to Haunts of the Thunder-Bird by Marius Barbeau.

#ImageDescriptionNotes
137Dugout, 1930
wood engraving on paper
7.4 x 11.8 cm, Edition: 120		First print in the portfolio.
138The Hoh-Hok House Posts at Karlukwees, 1930
wood engraving on paper
12.2 x 9.8 cm
Edition: 120		Second print in the portfolio.
139House of the Gulls, Karlukwees, 1930
wood engraving on paper
11.8 x 12.8 cm, Edition: 120		Third print in the portfolio.
140Zunuk, Karlukwees, 1930
wood engraving on paper
15.3 x 11 cm, Edition: 120		Fourth print in the portfolio.
141 Shacks on the Beach, Karlukwees, 1930
wood engraving on paper
15.1 x 11.9 cm, Edition: 120		Fifth print in the portfolio.
142Ruin, Tsatsisnukomi, 1930
wood engraving on paper
10.9 x 12.4 cm, Edition: 120		Sixth print in the portfolio.
143Thunderbird, Alert Bay, 1930
wood engraving on paper
11.9 x 16.2 cm, Edition: 120		Seventh print in the portfolio.
144The Clothes Line, Mamalilicoola, 1930
wood engraving on paper
12.4 x 12.4 cm, Edition: 120		Eighth print in the portfolio.
145The Floating Dock, Mamalilicoola, 1930
wood engraving on paper
15.2 x 12.8 cm, Edition: 120		Ninth print in the portfolio.
146Community Houses, Mamalilicoola, 1930
wood engraving on paper
13.4 x 14.9 cm, Edition: 120		Tenth print in the portfolio.

Back to Prints from 1929-1930
On to Prints from 1931.