The Lights that Flit across my Brain
He possessed a sense of deep religious conviction which is found throughout his work. However, there is a warm air of benediction and comfort that pervades some designs.
Joseph Webb is best known amongst collectors for his etchings Rat Barn 1928 and Dream Barn 1929. He is generally regarded as being a part of the revival of the pastoral tradition of whom Graham Sutherland, Robin Tanner and Paul Drury stand as figureheads.
Beryl Gascoigne
“Webb is one of the least known and most interesting etchers of the 1930s.”
Acclaimed as a master etcher at a young age Joseph Webb falls into that category of early 20th Century etchers who follow the Romantic Tradition. This was a love of pre-industrial English Landscape celebrated by Samuel Palmer in his visionary water colours and etchings produced whilst at Shoreham in Kent around 1825 -1835.
Amongst those artists inspired by Palmer are Paul Drury and Graham Sutherland. Webb’s inspirations go beyond as he admired William Blake, Rembrandt and Turner. In fact he never mentioned Palmer to my mother, Beryl Gascoigne, who knew Joseph at the height of his powers.
Jane Furst – March 2020
An exhaustive list of where his work has been exhibited.
