07) The Birds Lament.

A series of four Linocuts with text from the Birds Lament by John Clare.

I love the poetry of John Clare the late 18th century poet and this series of Linocut prints was created in response to this poem Bird’s Lament. Clare loved nature and lived at a time of tumultuous change. The whole landscape of England began to change and with increasing urbanisation and industrialisation our relationship to the natural work. Clare was acutely aware of this and could see the world he loved disappearing before his eyes. He was a great observer of nature and his poetry reflects the intimate relationship he had with nature, perhaps more so than any other poet. His poem was later made into a song by composer Richard Rodney Bennett.

This series of linocuts has a beautiful organic feel and the natural energy of the birds shines through - at least i hope it does. The technique of Linocutting is a very physical process that really suits the subject. Here I have also experimented with irregular edges to the linocuts giving each a more individual character.