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Babes in the Wood

Sir Hubert von Herkomer British, born Germany
Sitter Elsa Herkomer British
Sitter Siegfried Herkomer British
1880
Not on view
Herkomer here represents a boy and girl imagining a perilous journey through a forest, modeling the children on his own daughter and son, Elsa and Siegfried. This proof was made as the artist prepared an etching for the "The Art Journal"– published January 1881. In the latter, the image was accompanied by explanatory text that reads, "The artist's children, playing at a game which is better known in Germany than here, pursue their way through a forest (represented by the old familiar wooden tree on the table) infested with lions, dragons, and other beasts of prey. The affected terror on their faces is delightfully rendered." Born in Bavaria, Herkomer moved to London as a boy and enjoyed considerable success painting oils and watercolors. Later in his career he became an accomplished etcher and mezzotint engraver. He often chose subjects inspired by his German heritage, here evoking a fairy tale similar to ones recorded by the brothers Grimm.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Babes in the Wood
  • Artist: Sir Hubert von Herkomer (British, Waal, Bavaria 1849–1914 Budleigh Salterton, Devon)
  • Sitter: Elsa Herkomer (British, Bushey, Hertfordshire 1877–1938 Boulogne-sur-Mer)
  • Sitter: Siegfried Herkomer (British, Bushey, Hertfordshire 1874–1939 Christchurch, Dorset)
  • Date: 1880
  • Medium: Etching and drypoint; proof
  • Dimensions: Plate: 14 1/2 × 10 15/16 in. (36.8 × 27.8 cm)
    Sheet: 19 7/16 × 13 9/16 in. (49.4 × 34.4 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Funds from various donors, 2019
  • Object Number: 2019.243
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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Hubert Herkomer A.R.A. and His Children, Sir Hubert von Herkomer British, born Germany, Reproduction of an etching
Hubert Herkomer A.R.A. and His Children
Multiple artists/makers
after 1879
Etching and Mezzotint Engraving: Lectures Delivered at Oxford by Hubert Herkomer, R.A., M.A.
Sir Hubert von Herkomer
Macmillan & Co.
1892
Two Views of the Same Head
Sir Hubert von Herkomer
December 1880
A Welsh Woman, Sir Hubert von Herkomer British, born Germany, Etching and drypoint on simulated vellum
A Welsh Woman
Sir Hubert von Herkomer
1878
Broken Tackle, Sir Hubert von Herkomer British, born Germany, Etching and drypoint
Broken Tackle
Sir Hubert von Herkomer
1891

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