Sydney LEE

(1866 Manchester – 1949 London)

The Wave –1914

Wood engraving in blue on smooth Japan paper. Signed with monogram. Signed with pencil. Edition of 30 (besides edition of 100 in black).

Size of sheet: 37.7 x 27.3 cm.

Meyrick 117.

Some brown spots on the paper in the left margin of the sheet.

There are very few extant impressions of this print as the edition was destroyed by damp in the 1980s (see Meyrick p.141).

Sydney Lee: The Wave

In The Wave, Sydney Lee masterfully captures the raw, rhythmic power of the sea using the bold and tactile language of woodcut. The work exemplifies Lee’s command of dramatic contrast and texture, hallmarks of his printmaking style. Thick, expressive lines carve the motion of the surging water, while finely cut detailing evokes the spray and turbulence of a crashing wave.

Lee’s interest in coastal and maritime themes is evident across his oeuvre, and The Wave reflects his deep engagement with the elemental forces of nature. Influenced by both Japanese woodblock prints and European printmaking traditions, Lee created a uniquely British response to the landscape, emphasizing mood over realism.

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