Eric Ravilious HIGH STREET

In 1938 Ravilious created a set of 24 autolithographs of shops, which were found on the British High Street of that time, for Country Life books. These prints formed a book for children printed by the Curwen Press. Unfortunately, only 2000 books were printed because it’s printing plates were destroyed during the blitz but as a result High St has become one of the most highly sought after artists books of the time. For me it’s value lies in the intimate record it makes of a world that no longer exists. Drawings of everyday things communicate the detail of social history in a really unique way. Artists are often not concerned with the mundane and ordinary and as a result he work of those that do enables a special resonance.