Description
The subject here seems to be simple; pretty women walking about dressed in 1960s fashion. Forty plus years have passed since these were carved into blocks of wood by Frank Martin and the Pop- Art look is genuine. This print is composed of six separate woodblock prints in three colors. Look closely and you will find the work of a true master craftsman hiding in these seemingly simplistic images.
Most of Frank Martin’s output was commercial in a purposeful way. At a time when illustrative and decorative art in Britain flourished in publishing, journalism and advertising, he proudly called himself a jobbing artist and no one could deny the technical range of his accomplishments. It is a measure of his success that in the 1970s he held no fewer than 11 one-man shows. He was also one of the longest-serving illustrators for the Folio Society.
Martins work often had a playful quality. The sidelong glances, ripped bodices and cartoonish features (sometimes practically asking for speech bubbles) were all indications that he did not want to be taken solemnly. Naked girls were undoubtedly his favourite subjects, and he drew, painted, etched and engraved them repeatedly. He was a confident draughtsman, using strong shapes and swaggering lines full of movement. His images are straightforward, clear and affectionate.
