{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1135005"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1135005/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1135005","accessionNumber":"E.534-2007","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"The Letter","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Robert Sargent Austin, R.A. (1895-1973) was a printmaker, draughtsman, book illustrator and watercolorist, as well as a designer of posters. Born in Leicester, where he attended the School of Art 1909-13; he went on to study and later to teach at the Royal College of Art. He was also an official war artist  in World War II. He was highly skilled draughtsman best known for his exquisite etchings and engravings, mostly of animals, birds and plants, domestic scenes, figure subjects (often religious), and also landscapes. \r\n\r\nThis is one from a gift of 50 prints - mostly etchings - which cover the whole range of Austin's subject matter. Many of the prints are annotated by Austin himself, and several are proofs, or early states. The prints are works of art in their own right, but also offer valuable evidence of Austin's working methods, and the practice of etching and engraving as a fine art practice in the 1920s and 1930s.","physicalDescription":"Engraving entitled 'The Letter' depicting a woman of young to middle age, seated at the foot of a wooden staircase in a house, delicately holding the corners of a blank white folded letter or envelope.  In the foreground is a vase with large pale flowers, and a candle almost burned to the end.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Austin, Robert Sargent (R.A., R.E., P.R.W.S)","id":"A15505"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraving","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"none","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLD","id":"THES49658"},"free":"","case":"EL","shelf":"81","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"prints","id":"AAT41273"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1937-38","earliest":"1937-01-01","latest":"1938-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"3rd state"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Rachel Austin and Clare Calder","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"28.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"sheet","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23","unit":"cm","qualifier":"sheet","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions taken from departmental notes","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"RSA","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Signed in plate"},{"content":"3rd state 2 proofs 11 Dec 1937","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Production details and date; all in pencil."}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Engraving by Robert Austin entitled 'The Letter'.  Great Britain, 1937-8.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"woman","id":"x35642"},{"text":"stairs","id":"AAT3228"},{"text":"flowers","id":"x35571"},{"text":"candlestick","id":"AAT37588"},{"text":"letters","id":"AAT26879"},{"text":"correspondence","id":"AAT48730"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.534-2007"],"accessionNumberNum":"534","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2007,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-05","recordCreationDate":"2009-07-10","availableToBook":false}}