Etching craft

William Palmer Robins (1882-1959) was the son of an art teacher and naturalist. He originally studied architecture at King's College, London and later studied at various London art schools including the Royal College of Art under Sir Frank Short and went on to teach at St Martin's School of Art, London, for over 20 years. In 1913 he became an associate and in 1917 a full member of the Royal Society of Painter Etchers. In 1911 he won the Silver medal of the National Competition for the History of Architecture.

After the war, Robins returned to his teaching position until 1921 when he transferred to London Central School of Arts and Crafts, where he was in charge of the etching and engraving class. In this position he had influence on a large number of upcoming printers, including students from countries such as America which lacked comprehensive printmaking courses. In 1922 Robins' book Etching Craft, A Guide for Students and Collectors was published, the first instructive publication on the technique since Short's work On the Making of Etchings of 1888. The foreword was written by fellow artist Martin Hardie. The etching Sunrise and Storm functions as a frontispiece to this important book. Uniquely in the large collection built up by Sir John Ilott and gifted to the National Art Gallery, it is an 'artist's book' rather than a print as such.

See:

British Council, 'William Palmer Robins', http://visualarts.britishcouncil.org/collection/artists/robins-william-palmer-1882/initial/a

University of Melbourne, University Library Print Collection, http://opus.its.unimelb.edu.au/umblprints/imu.php?request=display&port=45000&id=96f5&flag=start&o ffset=0&count=1&view=details&enarratives=on&irn=92

'William Palmer Robins', http://www.wprobins.com/

Dr Mark Stocker  Curator, Historical International Art   May 2018