The Furse Family

Over the last few weeks, I have been working on a print based on a photograph that was found in the loft of No.36 Salisbury Road, and has been in the Moseley Local History Archive since the 1980s (see previous post 4.11.13). I was able, with the help of the Library of Birmingham staff, to find out who the family were. Henry and Florence Furse moved to Salisbury Road in about 1919 from School Road. They had three sons, William, Alan and Claude. The two eldest sons both served during the First World War. By a great stroke of luck, I discovered many entries from Alan's war diaries in 'Birmingham Pals' by Terry Carter. Sadly William was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, and there is a very moving quote from Alan about how he discovered his brother had died and how he found the place where he fell.

 After completing an initial hard ground line etch, I then added an aquatint etched in six stages to create the layers of tone.

I used the technique known as 'a la poupée' to add a range of colour direct to the plate. I started to realise the significance of the colour placement and how it could help emphasise different aspects of the story behind the print.

I also completed a small drypoint and mezzotint print, which depicted the photograph Alan took after he had erected a wooden cross on his brother William's grave.