Gaynor Chapman, 1935–2000, BritishCommissioned by London Transport, 1937–2004, BritishPrinted by McCorquodale & Company Ltd, British
Title:
London Markets
Date:
1961
Materials & Techniques:
Lithograph
Dimensions:
Sheet: 39 15/16 x 24 7/8 inches (101.4 x 63.2 cm)
Inscription(s)/Marks/Lettering:
In artist's hand, in green, right side of right image: "Gaynor Chapman." In red type, beneath left image: "BILLINGSGATE" and in black type below: "Pay a pre-breakfast visit. No 'Billingsgate compliments' * today, but the tradition | of salty exchanges persists, leather hats are in evidence, and porters' heads will | support nonchalant hundredweights. The rainbow harvest, ice-stiff in boxes or | stranded on the slab, brings a deep-sea tang to London's doorstep." In smaller black type, below, left: "* Richard Brome, 1652" and in italics, below, right: "Underground to Monument." In red type, beneath right image: "CONVENT GARDEN" and in black type below: "Another early morning expedition. Chaos is the order of the day, merchant and | customer bargain in a vegetable shorthand which defeats the uninitiated ear, porters | battle through the throng between mountains of begonias and broccoli, grapefruit | and greens. Try not to obstruct--here time is money, and neither grows on trees." In black italic type, below, right: "Underground to Convent Garden." Along bottom of the page, in large red type: "London Markets" and in smaller black type beneath: "Explore London's rich variety of markets. You may want a peck of peppers, you may not unearth a Ming vase. What you will surely find is a precious amalgam of uncompromising good humour, tolerance and unquenchable vitality that is the very stuff of working London." In black italic type, along bottom edge: "The free Markets leaflet lists a selection. Ask at any London Transport Enquiry Office or write to the Public Relations Officer, London Transport, 55 Broadway, S.W. 1." In tiny black type, along bottom egdge of poster: left: "161/155M/2700 PRINTED BY Mc CORQUODALE & CO. LTD. LONDON." In blue ink, on left: "[Fleitas]" and in graphite, bottom left center: "[7x2]".
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Gift of Henry S. Hacker, Yale BA 1965