Etching and aquatint on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
The Prahran Etchings
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/john-walker-2116" aria-label="More by John Walker" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">John Walker</a>
Prahran 3
Purchased 1982
abstraction
irregular forms
monochromatic
non-representational
<p>These five prints belong to the 'The Prahan Etchings', a group of 23 etchings which Walker executed in 1981. Some of these prints were inspired by the figure of the young girl in Goya's painting 'Duchess of Alba'. Walker became fascinated by this painting as a student and copied it often. The way Walker abstracted this figure is clearly visible in Prahran 3. It reappears in Prahran 8, 12 and 17. Other prints in the series, notably Prahran 5, were loosely based on Velasquez's 'Las Meninas'. Walker called these prints 'Labyrinths', referring to the deep space which surrounds the figures. By referring to old master paintings Walker emphasises the continuity between art of the past and the present.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
paper print etching aquatint
Prahran 3
image: 450 × 298 mm
Purchased 1982
<p>These five <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/print" title="Glossary definition for 'Print'"><span>prints</span></a> belong to the 'The Prahan <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/e/etching" title="Glossary definition for 'Etching'"><span>Etchings</span></a>', a group of 23 etchings which Walker executed in 1981. Some of these prints were inspired by the figure of the young girl in Goya's <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a> 'Duchess of Alba'. Walker became fascinated by this painting as a student and copied it often. The way Walker <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/a/abstract-art" title="Glossary definition for 'Abstract art'"><span>abstracted</span></a> this figure is clearly visible in Prahran 3. It reappears in Prahran 8, 12 and 17. Other prints in the series, notably Prahran 5, were loosely based on Velasquez's 'Las Meninas'. Walker called these prints 'Labyrinths', referring to the deep space which surrounds the figures. By referring to old master paintings Walker emphasises the continuity between art of the past and the present.</p>
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2004-08-31T00:00:00
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<p><a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/walker-prahran-3-p07749" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P07749</span></a> <b>No.3 from The Prahran Etchings</b> 1981 [<span>P07749</span>-<a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/walker-prahran-17-p07753" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>P07753</span></a>; incomplete]
<br/>
<br/>Five etchings from a suite of 23, printed by John Neeson and Ian Parry at Prahran College of Advanced Education, Victoria, published by the artist
<br/>Each inscribed ‘Walker 81’ b.r.
<br/>Purchased from Nigel Greenwood (Grant-in-Aid) 1982
<br/>
<br/><span>P07749</span>, etching with aquatint and open bite 17 3/4 × 11 1/2 (450 × 298) on paper 27 1/4 × 20 7/8 (695 × 527)
<br/>Inscribed ‘Prahran 3’ and ‘17/25’
<br/>
<br/><i>Lit:</i> <i>John Walker Prints 1976–84</i>, exhibition catalogue, Tate Gallery, January–March 1985, nos.14, 16 (ill.p.27), 18, 20 and 23 (ill.p.31) respectively
<br/>
<br/>[no further details]
<br/>
<br/><b>Published in:</b>
<br/><i>The Tate Gallery 1982-84: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions</i>, London 1986
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-07-26T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
abstraction irregular forms monochromatic non-representational