Promise – No. 293 / 500 – SOLD

Tiffany’s Research Notes on “Promise”:

This beautiful image “Promise” is one of Norman Lindsay’s loveliest etchings featuring a single female nude and is a faithful reproduction of his original etching which was first created in 1919 – early in his etching career.

Norman Lindsay’s wife Rose was the model for this work. Rose Lindsay was an important figure in Norman’s life as not only did she pose for many of his works (including 18 etchings which feature single figure nudes), she also learnt the painstaking method of printing all of Norman’s etchings.  During her lifetime is it estimated that she printed a staggering 11,000 separate prints!

Before marrying Norman, Rose worked as a professional artist’s model in Sydney and was acknowledged as one of the best because of her beauty and strength, which allowed her to hold a pose for a long time.

“Promise” portrays the Bohemian character that is evident in much of Norman Lindsay’s work with details such as the model’s dark ringlets, her beguiling gaze and the sensual way in which the fabric encircles her body.

Norman Lindsay’s beautiful wife Rose modelled for this etching, as well as several other etchings, watercolours and oil paintings.

Edition number 40 of the original etching of “Promise” is represented at the Museum of Art at the University of Melbourne.

There were only 40 etchings in the original edition of “Promise” and the etching portrays Norman’s mastery of Intaglio techniques, whereby he utilised several techniques – etching, drypoint and roulette.

In “Promise”, Lindsay also utilised a technique familiar in several of his etchings, creating a dramatic dark backdrop with decorative patterning to contrast with the delicate skin tones of the nude.