Jungle Book

 

Ian Hugo

  1898 - 1985 (biography)

1941  

engraving and soft-ground etching 

7 3/8 x 9 7/8" platemark 

pencil, lower right 

V/XXX 

dated and numbered in pencil 

British Museum reg.# 1987,0516.56 

heavy antique-white wove 

published 

artist 

18010 

$950.00 

A fictionalized portrait of Ian Hugo, whose given name was Hugh Parker Guiler and his wife, author Anais Nin appears in Philip Kaufman's 1990 film "Henry & June." Hugo was one the the early printmakers to help establish the Atelier 17 in New York with Hayter, who he had known in Paris. Hugo wanted to learn engraving so he could illustrate Anais Nin's books. She was having a difficult time finding publishers and they decided to publish her works by themselves. "Jungle Book", like many of the Atelier 17 experimental prints, was done using both engraving for sharp line and soft ground etching, with fabrics and papers pushed into the soft ground to create the tones and textures. Hugo's childhood was spent in Puerto Rico and the tropical landscape of his youth is often reflected in the Surreal imagery, such as "Jungle Book", which is probably also an homage to Kipling's childrens book that evoked such vivid images for so many children worldwide.