David Jones 1895–1974 - Monnow Valley Arts Centre

PA I N T E D I N S C R I P T I O N SAlthough Jones is recorded as having made hisfirst painted inscription in 1932, it is clear that hisapproach to lettering had developed much earlier.Some of the wood engravings from the Ditchlingdays incorporate lettering as did the copperengravings of the late 1920s. However Jonesabondoned engraving in 1930 and this form ofexpression gave way to painting his own sepecialform of letters in watercolour. Letters areirregularly spaced and sized. Colour is used toemphasise certain words and languages are mixedup. The two dimensional space appears to pushand pull at the spaces between the letters, creatinga rhythmic flow that enchants the eye.Most of these works were made as personalgifts to friends. Texts are drawn from the Bible orother sources that have particular resonance forthe event being celebrated or the intendedrecipient. The exercise of making the inscriptionshowever was laborious. Many drafts andexperiments were carried out for each as Jones wasessentially inventing the art form as he went along.Jones preferred non English texts as this helpsthe viewer concentrate on the visual impact of thework and not on the meaning of the words whichcomes later.16. Ut Tua Gratia Largiente 1947Black and red watercolour, 30.5 × 39 cmLiterature: The Painted Inscriptions of DavidJones, No. 10, page 28HELEN SUTHERLAND COLLECTION17. Veni Pater Pauperum 1949Watercolour, 19 × 32 cmInscribed For Louis from David Jones Whitsun1949 on reversePRIVATE COLLECTION1017