Edward and Molly | 1990 | 63 of 75
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Edward and Molly | 1990 | 63 of 75
Edmonton
10337 124 Street
Edmonton AB T5N 1R1
Canada
About the Artwork
Edward and Molly (1989) is an etching and aquatint with hand-colouring by David Blackwood (1941–2022), depicting an intimate domestic moment between the artist's parents. The diptych composition shows two interior spaces: on the left, an oval-framed photograph of family members rests against wallpaper patterned with hand-coloured teal rosettes, while above it hangs what appears to be a framed print of Blackwood's own Fire Down on the Labrador; on the right, a dining room scene unfolds where a woman in a dark dress serves at table while a man sits in profile, the window behind them revealing a luminous seascape with a sailing vessel on the horizon. The hand-colouring creates warmth—coral-pink tones in the sky and architectural details, teal in the wallpaper—against the cool greys of the aquatint.
Captain Edward Blackwood and Molly Glover Blackwood were the artist's parents. William Gough's 2001 monograph records their meeting: "It was while he was hove-to off Bragg's Island that he first saw Molly Glover and fell in love with her. She was standing by the ocean, her long black hair glinting in the sun, and he decided that he wanted her to be his wife. Molly Glover was eighteen."1 Edward, a schooner captain, spent his life navigating the Labrador coast; Molly grew up on Bragg's Island, sixteen miles out in Bonavista Bay, daughter of a cod trap fisherman who became a merchant. This print captures them in later life, in the domestic space they built together, the ocean still visible through the window—always present, never quite left behind.
The left panel shows domestic memory in multiple forms: an oval-framed family photograph and, on the wall above, a framed print of the artist's own work, 'Fire Down on the Labrador' documenting his father's maritime world—the son's artwork now hanging in the parents' home, a circular narrative of witness and honouring. The window view in the right panel continues this connection between interior and exterior, domestic life and maritime labour. The woman serves, the man sits in contemplation, the ship sails past. It is a quiet scene of partnership and persistence, honouring two people who navigated between island and mainland, sea and shore, the hard requirements of survival and the grace of daily ritual. The hand-coloured details—the warm pinks, the teal wallpaper—soften the composition while the aquatint technique gives weight and atmosphere to the room.
Dimensions and Details
- Title: Edward and Molly
- Artist: David Blackwood (1941–2022)
- Year: 1989
- Size: 19¾" × 32" (50.2 × 81.3 cm)
- Medium: Etching and aquatint with hand-colouring on paper
- Edition: 63/75
- Condition: Pristine. These specific impressions have been stored flat in archival conditions since 1989, never displayed or exposed to ambient light.
Acquisition Enquiries
Edward and Molly is offered exclusively through West End Gallery. Enquiries are welcome. We invite you to contact us directly to arrange a private viewing. Layaway options are available upon request. Shipping is quoted based on location; local delivery within Edmonton and surrounding communities is complimentary.
Citations
- William Gough, David Blackwood: Master Printmaker (Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2001).
Accessibility Description
This diptych composition consists of two joined panels depicting interior domestic spaces. The left panel shows a section of wallpapered wall with an oval-framed black-and-white photograph positioned below a rectangular framed print. The wallpaper features a repeating pattern of rosettes or floral medallions hand-coloured in teal green against a pale ground. The decorative border trim at top and bottom shows geometric circular patterns. The rectangular framed print on the wall appears to depict a maritime scene. The oval photograph below depicts three figures in what appears to be a studio portrait.
The right panel depicts a dining room interior. A woman in a dark dress with a polka-dot or patterned texture stands at the right side of a table set with dishes, a teapot, and cups. She appears to be serving or arranging items on the table. Her posture suggests motion—reaching or leaning forward. To the left, a man sits in profile in a wooden chair, his body oriented toward the left edge of the composition. He wears dark clothing and appears contemplative or observant.
Behind the figures, a large window dominates the back wall. Through the window, a seascape is visible: a sailing vessel with white or pale sails appears on the horizon line between water and sky. The sky shows hand-coloured coral-pink tones suggesting dawn or dusk light. The window frame and surrounding architectural details are rendered in warm pink tones through hand-colouring. Heavy curtains with a decorative pattern frame the left side of the window. The table, chairs, and interior architecture are rendered in grey aquatint tones, creating depth and shadow.
The overall palette combines hand-coloured warm tones (teal, coral-pink) with cool grey-blacks of the aquatint technique. The work creates an intimate domestic scene while maintaining visual connection to the maritime world beyond. The work is signed and dated by the artist. Medium: etching and aquatint with hand-colouring on paper, 19¾" × 32" (50.2 × 81.3 cm).
Full Provenance
- 1989: Created by David Blackwood
- 1989: Edition of 75 published
- 1989–Present: Private collection; never displayed; stored in archival conditions; offered through West End Gallery, Edmonton
Disclaimer
This description has been prepared by West End Gallery using original documentation and current scholarship. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, minor variations or additional information may emerge through ongoing research. Prospective purchasers are encouraged to contact us to confirm any details critical to their acquisition decision.
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