Seaby specialised in colour woodcuts of birds and animals. The easy appeal of prints such as `Snow and Hare? hides Seaby?s great technical ability: he was the author of influential articles on the technique of colour wood and lino engraving. A large number of his prints were produced as Christmas cards, for which this is a perfect example.
Allen William Seaby (English, 1867 - 1953)
Born in London in 1867, Allen Seaby was a painter, illustrator, colour woodcut artist and writer. He studied at Reading University?s School of Art where, from 1920-33, he was Professor of Fine Art. He illustrated and wrote a number of books during his career including: `Art in the Life of Mankind?, 1928-31, and `Colour Printing with Linoleum and Wood Blocks?, 1928. He also travelled widely in Scotland when he was working on the plates for a book on British birds, from 1910-13. Seaby was an influential exponent of the colour woodcut method with his subjects including birds, animals, and scenes from both the United Kingdom and Europe.
