James McBey. 1883-1959.
The Carpenter of Hesdin. 1917. Drypoint. Hardie 178. 7 13/16 x 11 15/16 (sheet 9 3/16 x 13 1/2). Edition 76, #50. A very rich impression with drypoint burr, printed on cream laid paper.Signed and numbered in ink. $600.
Hardie writes, "A French carpenter in his workshop is making wooden corsses for the graves of French soldiers. With left elbow raised, he is holding a corss agains a band-say. It is a winter's day, the the old man wears thick woollen golves. His two grand=chldren are seen against a window to the right."
Hesdin lies in the heart of the Seven Valleys at the confluence of the Canche and the Ternoise, south east of Montreuil sur Mer and 56 kms from Arras. The Seven Valleys is a charming area, remarkably unspoilt with a wealth of cosy restaurants and vibrant markets where local fare is produced with pride. The Seven Valleys are easily reached from the Channel Ports and is on the railway line which runs from Boulogne to Arras.
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