Here is the an image from the dream sequence in the 1927 dystopian film Metropolis. For some reason I could not fathom, the hero sees the figure of Death approaching him playing on a flute made of a human femur.
The top two pictures here are the final version printed on white and on brown recycled packaging paper. I am trying to build textures: glue and salt have been applied to the lino after the final cut, allowed to harden and then shaved flat leaving an irregular, partly resistant, surface to take up the ink.
The gallery shows the series, starting with the charcoal, graphite and white ink sketch, the first cut, including an image printed on tracing paper, second cut and the final version after manipulation with glue and salt.
These are excellent–very powerful.
I saw a similar flute on the TV, the femur slightly modified with drilling and a stitched leather end. It was Tibetan, according to the presenter. In your image perhaps it was another way for death to taunt the living.
Interestingly in Wraggs-Sykes book Kindred, about our Neanderthal cousins, she makes much of their funerary rites, with included carrying bits of human bone as keepsakes (perhaps) as well as possible ritual cannibalism.
Well, the Victorians had their keepsakes of the dead (and living) with woven hair and lockets, but you get a better tune from a femur.
Excellent. I am so impressed!
Thank you. I’m trying to experiment with this. Next one I’m planning I want to give illusion of smoke.
Wow. You are steaming ahead with linocut. Wish you had started years ago?
Well I did. I joined the print workshop in Birmingham with the same idea, using printmaking as a discipline to shape my sketching. But I couldn’t take time from work and family to focus on this and was exhausted. So somehow I’ve drifted back to this.
Such powerful images. Printmaking is one thing I wish I’d investigated beyond the occasional attempt. But I can’t do everything…(k)
Thanks. I can imagine print making in your hands would be fascinating.
Too much I’d like to do and way too little time for it.
Yes I know that feeling
Really enjoying these works
Thanks. I’ve more lined up but they take so long!