Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Lost Art of Machine Drawing

March 1, 2011 by Marion Maneker

Alice Rawsthorn tells the story of machine drawing pioneer Desmond Paul Henry whose work was forgotten until recently:

[O]ne of Henry’s interests was devising ways of creating images without paint or pencils, mostly by making marks on paper with unorthodox materials, including liquids and creams he found at home and photo chemicals. In 1961, Henry won a local art competition with that work. The prize was an exhibition at the Reid Gallery in London. When one of the judges, the artist L.S. Lowry, visited his home and saw the machine drawings, he encouraged Henry to show them. […]

His first drawings were made using ballpoint pens. Then Henry switched to technical tube pens, whose ink was less likely to fade. […] It took six to eight weeks to build each machine, and up to two days to produce a drawing. Once Henry became accustomed to the process, he would leave the machine running while he concentrated on academic work, or took his daily nap.

“As time went by he left more and more to the machine,” Ms. O’Hanrahan said. “He made tiny hand embellishments on some of the drawings, but they were so subtle that you have to look very carefully to work out where he has highlighted something or accentuated the lines.”

When Desmond Paul Henry Traded His Pen for a Machine (New York Times)

 

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Meet the SheikhaMeet the Sheikha
  • Leibovitz's New PartnerLeibovitz's New Partner
  • Dutch Rembrandt Acquisition Highlights Museums’ Ability to Pay Up for Great Works of ArtDutch Rembrandt Acquisition Highlights Museums’ Ability to Pay Up for Great Works of Art
  • Hudson River School Painter's Works FoundHudson River School Painter's Works Found
  • Christie's Preview: OrpenChristie's Preview: Orpen
  • Bacon Gets BurnedBacon Gets Burned

Filed Under: Artists

About Marion Maneker

LiveArt

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor
 

Loading Comments...