Death stamp II (2023) Original Ink Drawing by Paul Ward

A continuation of a series of illustrations using the format of a postage stamp. I've been visiting cemeteries in search of sculptures to inspire these drawings. I'm interested in dealing with the subject of death and how its inevitability is so often screened from our view. In George Orwell's 'Coming Up for Air' the protagonist, also a George, muses:

'Every new town puts its cemetery on the outskirts. Shove it away, keep it out of
sight! Can't bear to be reminded of death. Even the tombstones tell you the same story. They never say that the chap underneath them 'died', it's always 'passed away' or 'fell asleep'. It wasn't so in the old days. We had our churchyard plumb in the middle of
the town, you passed it every day, you saw the spot where your grandfather was lying and where some day you were going to lie yourself. We didn't mind looking at the dead.'

This quietly mournful figure was one I found in Loyasse cemetery, Lyon. That very day I managed to get locked in said cemetery, always check closing times on a bank holiday.

Materials used:

Ink and acrylic on 250gsm paper

Details:

• Ink drawing on Paper
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 20 x 28 x 0.1cm (unframed) / 20 x 28cm (actual image size)
• Signed on the front
• Style: Illustrative
• Subject: People and portraits

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