This month, Keeper’s Corner is looking at items associated with the theme of Summer.
In the art collection is this lithographic print of a high summer scene of Harvesting by John Nash. It is from the second series of School Prints. During the Second World War, Derek and Brenda Rawnsley had the idea of commissioning artists to produce prints for junior schools – bringing contemporary art to young children who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to see it. The first series of twelve prints were released in three sets in 1946 for an annual subscription of £3 10s.0d. By the time of the second series in 1947 this had increased to £4.
Nash enjoyed using structures and patterns in his illustrative work. Here, the uncut wheat dominates the picture surrounded by neatly bound sheaves of cut wheat. He has added humour with the labourers chasing stray dogs out of the field. Even though this scene depicts summer, Nash produced it in the depths of winter.
