Sitting Nude - [Pen and Ink Drawing]

An atmospheric study, pen and ink, with charcoal. Cross-hatching has been used to pick out the heavy contrast between the shadow and light fabric around the sitter's waist. - Signed, upper right corner (and perhaps also dated; '11); on wove paper. -
Condition: there is some surface dirt and light discolouration to the edges of the page; otherwise the condition is fine. - Size: 12.4" x 8.5"; sheet size: 13.6" x 11.3". -
Provenance: ex collection of the artist's lover, model and housekeeper, Hilda; given to Hilda's nephew Dennis Alfred Steven Hopper upon Hilda's death; given to Douglas James Hopper (Hilda's great nephew) upon his father Dennis's death. - Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from a British art dealer. -
Acclaimed early 20th century British artist with an instantly recognisable narrative style. A huge part of the artist's many graphite, charcoal, watercolour and ink drawings has only recently been brought into the open. During the years at Tunbridge Wells (1933-1959), Hope Read lived an avant-garde lifestyle with his live-in housekeeper, life model and mistress, who we know only as Hilda, and here they lived in the basement flat of a modest detached Victorian villa. - More biographical info is rapidly found at 'haroldhoperead.org.uk'.