Paul Bommer – Under Milk Wood – Dylan Thomas – Original Signed Limited Edition Screenprint – 34/35 – 2014

Artist: Paul Bommer
Title: Under Milk Wood
Date: 2014
Medium: Original two-colour hand-pulled screenprint
Colourway: Blue and black on cream paper
Edition: Limited edition of 35 impressions
This example: Number 34/35, signed and titled by Paul Bommer
Sheet size: 50 × 70 cm (B2)
Format: Unframed; supplied carefully rolled for dispatch
Stock reference: 004243

Description

An original, signed and numbered limited-edition screenprint by the acclaimed British artist and illustrator Paul Bommer, celebrating Dylan Thomas’s much-loved masterpiece Under Milk Wood. Created in 2014 to commemorate the centenary of the Welsh poet’s birth, this wonderfully detailed illustration brings to life the extraordinary inhabitants of Thomas’s fictional seaside town of Llareggub.

This example is number 34 of a strictly limited edition of just 35 impressions, signed and titled by Paul Bommer.

Printed in blue and black on cream paper, the composition features an exuberant gathering of characters, buildings, animals and objects associated with Thomas’s celebrated play for voices. At its centre, the title Under Milk Wood appears in bold lettering, surrounded by a densely populated illustration in Bommer’s distinctive style. The composition incorporates the hillside, chapel, houses, harbour and boats of the imaginary Welsh town, together with its remarkable inhabitants. The contrasting blue and black inks give the print a striking graphic quality, while the considerable intricacy of the illustration encourages close examination. A particularly appealing example of contemporary British illustration, the screenprint combines Bommer’s characteristic wit and decorative draughtsmanship with one of the most celebrated works of twentieth-century Welsh literature.

Every Character from Under Milk Wood

One of the most remarkable aspects of this screenprint is the comprehensiveness of Bommer’s interpretation.

The artist has confirmed that every character appearing in, or mentioned in, Under Milk Wood is represented in the illustration.

Among the familiar inhabitants of Llareggub are Captain Cat, the blind former sea captain haunted by memories of his maritime adventures; Polly Garter, whose songs and recollections are among the play’s most memorable passages; and the eccentric Lord Cut-Glass, surrounded by his collection of clocks. Other characters include Bessie Bighead, Nogood Boyo and the many colourful personalities whose conversations, dreams, secrets and everyday activities give the play its extraordinary vitality. The individual figures are arranged in Bommer’s characteristic illustrative style, with exaggerated facial expressions, distinctive costumes and humorous details. Rather than focusing upon a single dramatic episode, the artist presents a collective portrait of the imaginary community. The result is a visual celebration of the entire work, inviting admirers of Dylan Thomas to identify their favourite characters and discover the numerous literary references incorporated into the design.

Dylan Thomas and Under Milk Wood

Dylan Thomas (1914–1953) was one of the most influential Welsh poets and writers of the twentieth century.

Born in Swansea, Thomas became internationally renowned for his distinctive poetic language, extraordinary verbal imagination and powerful evocations of childhood, memory, landscape and human experience. His best-known works include Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night, A Child’s Christmas in Wales and Under Milk Wood. First performed in New York in May 1953, Under Milk Wood was published posthumously in 1954.

Described as a play for voices, the work follows a single day in the lives of the inhabitants of Llareggub, an imaginary Welsh seaside community whose name is famously a reversal of an irreverent phrase. Beginning with the dreams of the sleeping townspeople, the narrative gradually reveals their memories, desires, relationships, disappointments and everyday preoccupations. Thomas’s remarkable dialogue combines comedy, lyricism, tenderness, absurdity and richly musical language. Although the town is fictional, its atmosphere draws upon the coastal communities of south Wales, particularly Laugharne, where Thomas lived during the later years of his life.

Under Milk Wood has remained a cornerstone of Welsh literary culture and has inspired numerous theatrical productions, radio performances, films and artistic interpretations.

Paul Bommer: Artist and Illustrator

Paul Bommer is a British artist, illustrator and printmaker whose distinctive work combines intricate draughtsmanship, historical references, traditional decorative influences and an irreverent sense of humour. A graduate of the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, Bommer has established a recognisable illustrative style informed by folklore, mythology, heraldry, British social history, literature and the traditions of popular printmaking.

His work frequently incorporates elaborate lettering, historical characters, animals, architectural details and densely populated compositions. Originally from London, where he worked for many years in the East End, Bommer subsequently established his studio in Norfolk. His illustration commissions have included work for the City of London’s Guildhall, The Guardian, Wired, Eye magazine and the Poetry Society. Alongside his commissioned work, he produces original limited-edition screenprints exploring literary, historical and cultural subjects.

Under Milk Wood exemplifies his particular ability to combine narrative illustration with decorative complexity, translating a substantial literary work into a single carefully organised visual composition.

Condition and Presentation

Fine condition. Supplied unframed and carefully rolled in a protective postal tube for dispatch.

Why Buy From Hornseys?

Established in 1976, Hornseys is an independent family-run bookseller and gallery based in Ripon, North Yorkshire, with fifty years of experience in carefully selected books, original prints, maps and collectable works of art.

We have a particular interest in original illustration, British printmaking and works inspired by literature, history and traditional visual culture. Our approach combines careful examination of individual items with research into their artistic, bibliographical and historical significance.

When purchasing from Hornseys, you benefit from:

• Established expertise since 1976: Fifty years of independent bookselling and experience handling collectable works on paper.
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• Accurate edition details: Signatures, edition numbers, dimensions and printing techniques are clearly described.
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