Joan Hassall
Encyclopedia
Joan Hassall, was a wood engraver, book illustrator
and typographer. Her subject matter ranged from natural history to illustrations for English literary classics. In 1964 she was elected the first woman master member of the Art Workers Guild
and in 1987 was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire
).
, London
, Joan Hassall was the daughter of illustrator John Hassall
and his second wife, Constance Brooke-Webb. She attended The Royal Academy Schools from 1928 to 1933. In 1931 she began evening classes in engraving at the London Central School of Photo-engraving and Lithography in Fleet Street, where her teacher was R. John Beedham. While her style is similar to the English wood engraver Thomas Bewick
, she studied many engravers as a student.
The engraving of the title page of her brother Christopher Hassall
’s book of poems, Devil’s Dyke, published in 1936, was her first commissioned illustration. She subsequently illustrated works by Jane Austen
, Anthony Trollope
, Mrs Gaskell and Mary Russell Mitford
and The Saltire Chapbooks, published by the Saltire Society
in the 1940s. During World War II, Kingsley Cook, a tutor of Book Illustration and Drawing at Edinburgh College of Art
, suggested that Joan Hassall act as his replacement, a post that she accepted. By 1948 Hassall had set up her own small press, Curtain Press. In that same year she supplied the original engravings for the postage stamps issued in commemoration of the Royal Silver Wedding. In 1950 she designed an edition of Robert Burns
' poems, to which she contributed a series of illustrations. She also designed the invitation that Prince Charles received to Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation
, judged to be "the best thing of its kind in the history of the Coronation."
The London bookbinding firm of Sangorski & Sutcliffe
bound the limited editions (for the publisher Rupert Hart-Davis) of Eric Linklater
's A Sociable Plover (1957) and Sealskin Trousers (1947), with Joan Hassall's wood-engravings. "These were to be signed by author and artist, and Linklater, cantankerous after lunch, insisted on signing 'Joan Hassall' and making the hapless Joan write 'Eric Linklater'." In 1960 Hassall created 42 illustrations for The Collected Poems of Andrew Young, about which John Gibbens observed, "Joan Hassall's wood engravings...are exquisite miniatures, at only one remove from the artist's hand, and exquisitely matched to the poems in their concentration." These large-paper editions were also bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Between 1957 and 1962 Hassall's black and white woodcut prints for Jane Austen's novels came out in an edition by the Folio Society
. Although many subsequent editions of these books have been published, the first editions are now quite rare. Known to be a perfectionist, Hassall tried to capture in her work that "monumental moment". She sometimes used a scraperboard or scratchboard medium for designing book plates.
Hassall's health was frail, and as early as 1943 she asked to be relieved of teaching at Edinburgh College of Art on medical grounds. She loved music and art, and was devoted to cats. Bookplate expert Brian North Lee collected thirty-nine items by or about Hassall, who engraved his first bookplate, and she named him her literary and artistic executor. When Hassall died in Malham
, Yorkshire, in 1988, Lee spoke at her funeral, making his affection for her clear. In 2001, under his direction, the two-volume Dearest Joan: A Selection of Joan Hassall's Lifetime Letters and Art was published by the Fleece Press in a limited edition of 300 copies.
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
and typographer. Her subject matter ranged from natural history to illustrations for English literary classics. In 1964 she was elected the first woman master member of the Art Workers Guild
Art Workers Guild
The Art Workers Guild or Art-Workers' Guild is an organisation established in 1884 by a group of British architects associated with the ideas of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement. The guild promoted the 'unity of all the arts', denying the distinction between fine and applied art...
and in 1987 was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
).
Biography
Born in Notting HillNotting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Joan Hassall was the daughter of illustrator John Hassall
John Hassall (illustrator)
John Hassall was born in Walmer, Kent on 21 May 1868, died 8 March 1948 and was an English illustrator.Hassall educated in Worthing, at Newton Abbot College and at Neuenheim College, Heidelberg. After twice failing entry to The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he emigrated to Manitoba in Canada...
and his second wife, Constance Brooke-Webb. She attended The Royal Academy Schools from 1928 to 1933. In 1931 she began evening classes in engraving at the London Central School of Photo-engraving and Lithography in Fleet Street, where her teacher was R. John Beedham. While her style is similar to the English wood engraver Thomas Bewick
Thomas Bewick
Thomas Bewick was an English wood engraver and ornithologist.- Early life and apprenticeship :Bewick was born at Cherryburn House in the village of Mickley, in the parish of Ovingham, Northumberland, England, near Newcastle upon Tyne on 12 August 1753...
, she studied many engravers as a student.
The engraving of the title page of her brother Christopher Hassall
Christopher Hassall
Christopher Vernon Hassall was an English actor, dramatist, librettist, lyricist and poet, who found his greatest fame in a memorable musical partnership with the actor and composer Ivor Novello after working together in the same touring company...
’s book of poems, Devil’s Dyke, published in 1936, was her first commissioned illustration. She subsequently illustrated works by Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
, Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope
Anthony Trollope was one of the most successful, prolific and respected English novelists of the Victorian era. Some of his best-loved works, collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, revolve around the imaginary county of Barsetshire...
, Mrs Gaskell and Mary Russell Mitford
Mary Russell Mitford
Mary Russell Mitford , was an English author and dramatist. She was born at Alresford, Hampshire. Her place in English literature is as the author of Our Village...
and The Saltire Chapbooks, published by the Saltire Society
Saltire Society
The Saltire Society was established in 1936 to encourage everything that might improve the quality of life in Scotland and restore the country to its proper place as a creative force in European civilisation....
in the 1940s. During World War II, Kingsley Cook, a tutor of Book Illustration and Drawing at Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh College of Art is an art school in Edinburgh, Scotland, providing tertiary education in art and design disciplines for over two thousand students....
, suggested that Joan Hassall act as his replacement, a post that she accepted. By 1948 Hassall had set up her own small press, Curtain Press. In that same year she supplied the original engravings for the postage stamps issued in commemoration of the Royal Silver Wedding. In 1950 she designed an edition of Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
' poems, to which she contributed a series of illustrations. She also designed the invitation that Prince Charles received to Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was the ceremony in which the newly ascended monarch, Elizabeth II, was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ceylon, and Pakistan, as well as taking on the role of Head of the Commonwealth...
, judged to be "the best thing of its kind in the history of the Coronation."
The London bookbinding firm of Sangorski & Sutcliffe
Sangorski & Sutcliffe
Sangorski & Sutcliffe is a firm of bookbinders established in London in 1901. It is considered to be one of the most important bookbinding companies of the 20th century, famous for its luxurious jeweled bindings that used real gold and precious stones in their book covers.Sangorski & Sutcliffe...
bound the limited editions (for the publisher Rupert Hart-Davis) of Eric Linklater
Eric Linklater
Eric Robert Russell Linklater was a British writer, known for more than 20 novels, as well as short stories, travel writing and autobiography, and military history.-Life:...
's A Sociable Plover (1957) and Sealskin Trousers (1947), with Joan Hassall's wood-engravings. "These were to be signed by author and artist, and Linklater, cantankerous after lunch, insisted on signing 'Joan Hassall' and making the hapless Joan write 'Eric Linklater'." In 1960 Hassall created 42 illustrations for The Collected Poems of Andrew Young, about which John Gibbens observed, "Joan Hassall's wood engravings...are exquisite miniatures, at only one remove from the artist's hand, and exquisitely matched to the poems in their concentration." These large-paper editions were also bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Between 1957 and 1962 Hassall's black and white woodcut prints for Jane Austen's novels came out in an edition by the Folio Society
Folio Society
The Folio Society is a book club based in London that produces new editions of classic books. Their books are notable for their high quality bindings and original illustrations...
. Although many subsequent editions of these books have been published, the first editions are now quite rare. Known to be a perfectionist, Hassall tried to capture in her work that "monumental moment". She sometimes used a scraperboard or scratchboard medium for designing book plates.
Hassall's health was frail, and as early as 1943 she asked to be relieved of teaching at Edinburgh College of Art on medical grounds. She loved music and art, and was devoted to cats. Bookplate expert Brian North Lee collected thirty-nine items by or about Hassall, who engraved his first bookplate, and she named him her literary and artistic executor. When Hassall died in Malham
Malham
Malham is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. Situated in the Yorkshire Dales with a population of approximately 150. The surrounding countryside is well known for its limestone pavements and other examples of limestone scenery...
, Yorkshire, in 1988, Lee spoke at her funeral, making his affection for her clear. In 2001, under his direction, the two-volume Dearest Joan: A Selection of Joan Hassall's Lifetime Letters and Art was published by the Fleece Press in a limited edition of 300 copies.
External links
- Textualities: Biographical article on Joan Hassall
- John Hassall's daughter visits Skegness: With a photo of Joan Hassall opening an exhibit
- Author and Book Info.com
- Austen Illustrated, Or Jane Had No Phiz
Illustrations by Joan Hassall
- Joan Hassall Engravings and Drawings
- A Child's Garden of Verses, Robert Louis Stephenson, 1947
- Cranford, by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
- Bookplate by Joan Hassall: Scraperboard design for the politician Edward Heath,1974
- Illustration for Trollope's The Turkish Bath
- Royal Silver Wedding postage stamps
- National Portrait Gallery: Joan Hassall's portrait of Christopher Hassall
- Prince Charles's invitation to his mother's 1953 coronation, designed by Joan Hassall
- Pride and Prejudice Wood Engraving
- Series of woodcut illustrations of Jane Austen novels on The Republic of Pemberley website
- View a series of woodcuts by Joan Hassall for Jane Austen novels on this website
- Robert Burns Poems, illustration from To a Mouse
- Joan Hassell Dust Jacket
- Modern Artist Engravers, Joan Hassall, The Old Tree 1950
